Reviews

EARL SCRUGGS: BANJO ICON—GORDON CASTELNERO AND DAVID L. RUSSELL Rowman & Littlefield 9781442268654. Hardback, 258 pp., Forward by Bela Fleck, $40. This is an insightful tribute to the man who put the banjo in bluegrass. Taken from many oral histories or first-hand accounts of folks who knew Scruggs, we get a rather detailed look into…

MAMA CORN LIVE AND LEARN No Label No Number Mama Corn, a fun and funky bluegrass group from central Pennsylvania, has scaled down from a quintet to a quartet since their previous recording Hold That Crooked Line. On Live And Learn, they sound like they’ve done exactly that, refining their sound and repertoire and managing…

ANDREW VOGTS SASQUATCH WITH AN ALIEN ON ITS HEAD Patuxent Music CD-298 Here is another talented young picker making his recording debut on Tom Mindte’s Patuxent Music. His name is Andrew Vogts. He’s 15, plays fiddle, and is already something of a music veteran, having won competitions at Galax and Clifftop and also performed with…

THE JAKOB’S FERRY STRAGGLERS WHITE LIGHTNING ROAD No Label No Number The latest from the western Pennsylvania-based Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers, a self-described “Appalachian bluegrass” band, features a collection of originals by bandmembers Gary Antol and Joe Dep, plus some traditional tunes. Two well-chosen covers that really show off the old-time instrumentation and natural vocal blend…

SING ME BACK HOME: SOUTHERN ROOTS AND COUNTRY MUSIC—BY BILL C. MALONE Univ. of Oklahoma Press 9780806155869. Hardcover, 368 pp., 21 b&w illus., $29.95. (Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 2800 Venture Dr., Norman, OK 73069, www.oupress.com.) This new book from Bill Malone is a collection of essays written during his more than fifty years as a…

ROB BENZING Patuxent Music CD-296 Those concerned with the future of traditional bluegrass music can seek comfort in the latest crop of young pickers coming along, making the next generation of tunes. Rob Benzing debuts with a self-titled album that combines old favorites and fresh tunes from this banjoist and his group of friends and…