Reviews

JEAN RITCHIE’S KENTUCKY MOTHER GOOSE: SONGS AND STORIES FROM MY CHILDHOOD BY JEAN RITCHIE WITH SUSAN BRUMFIELD Hal Leonard 9781495007880. Hardback, 103 pages, b&w and colored pictures and photos, CD included, $19.99. Jean Ritchie—singer, songwriter and dulcimer player—is perhaps best known in the bluegrass world for her songs “Blue Diamond Mines,” “Black Waters,” and “The…

THE LONELY HEARTSTRING BAND DEEP WATERS Rounder Records 11661-39695-02 This is the debut release from the 2015 IBMA winners of the Momentum Award. Four of the five members of the band—Charles Clements (bass & vocals), his twin brother George Clements (guitar & lead vocals), Gabe Hirshfeld (banjo), Patrick M’Gonigle (fiddle, vocals), and Matt Witler (mandolin)—met…

THE WOOKS LITTLE CIRCLES Gnar Vector Records No Number Given that the folk music community has played host to bands called The Vulcans and Klingon Klezmer, I suppose it was inevitable that a new franchise begged for equal time, in the form of this debut recording by a Kentucky quintet calling themselves The Wooks.  They…

MICHAEL CLEVELAND FIDDLER’S DREAM Compass Records 4674    Since bursting onto the scene as one of IBMA’s Kids On Bluegrass, Michael Cleveland has become perhaps the most honored bluegrass fiddler of his generation. Blessed with astonishing gifts in overall musicianship and in his utter command of every style and nuance known to the fiddle world, Cleveland…

JOSH GRIGSBY AND COUNTY LINE RUBY LANE MEMORIES No Label No Number This pleasant release by the Virginia group Josh Grigsby and County Line is highlighted by the fine lead singing of Grigsby and the excellent harmonies from the rest of the band. On their second release as a band, the group shines on cuts…

KENNY & AMANDA SMITH UNBOUND Farm Boy Records No Number Since their first project in 2001, Kenny and Amanda Smith have become one of bluegrass music’s most endearing and solid duos. Amanda (vocals) and Kenny (guitar, vocals) are joined on this project by Jacob Burleson (mandolin), Kyle Perkins (bass), Justin Jenkins (banjo), and Wayne Winkle…