Reviews

CHRIS JONES & THE NIGHT DRIVERS MADE TO MOVE Mountain Home MH16792 Chris Jones wears many hats. He’s a songwriter, a musician, a DJ, and a writer, but most of all, he’s an artist and band leader. On this new project, Jones is joined by his current band including Gina Clowes (banjo), Mark Stoffel (mandolin),…

VARIOUS ARTISTS MAC WISEMAN: I SANG THE SONG LIFE OF THE VOICE WITH A HEART Mountain Fever MFR170120    Mountain Fever promises and delivers “an unprecedented album project” in I Sang The Song. On the one hand, it comprises an all-star tribute to Mac featuring John Prine, Alison Krauss, Jim Lauderdale, Sierra Hull, Shawn Camp, Junior…

CATHY FINK & MARCY MARXER GET UP AND DO RIGHT Community Music CMCD #210 Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer have been at this music game for a good long while. This is their 45th recording together. Think on that. You don’t get to put out 45 records unless you have a following and your audience…

FIREBALL MAIL BENDING THE RAILS No Label No Number On the heels of winning a contest at Telluride in 2016, Fireball Mail from Alabama has released its debut recording. In the band are Brad Bulla (guitar), Caleb Edwards (mandolin), Phil Easterbrook (banjoist), and Joe Brown (bass). They’re joined on two songs by fiddler Aubrey Haynie…

THE GIBSON BROTHERS IN THE GROUND Rounder Records 1166100173 In the world of brother harmonies, the Gibson Brothers have set the Gold Standard. Brother harmonies have always been a mainstay of their performances and recordings, gained from their early listening to artists such as the Everly Brothers, Jim & Jesse, the Lilly Brothers, and Blue…

VARIOUS ARTISTS ON TOP OF OLD SMOKY NEW OLD-TIME SMOKY MOUNTAIN MUSIC Great Smoky Mountains Assoc. 200964    In 2010, I reviewed a wonderful CD of recordings made in the Great Smoky Mountains in 1939 and 1940. This CD is a compilation of contemporary renditions of 23 songs and tunes inspired by the first CD. The…