Reviews

THE KEVIN PRATER BAND WALKING RAILS & COUNTING TIES No Label No Number With the possible exception of the slightly minor cast of the lost love tune “Joanie” and Kevin Prater’s own tragic romance original “You’re In Love With Another,” the offerings here, sad subject or no, have an upbeat, positive sound that make you…

GRAHAM SPARKMAN HAZARD WAS HERE No Label No Number There is a loose, Americana, old-time quality about this recording from Graham Sparkman. It reminds me of one of the earliest CDs I reviewed for BU, one by Fred Lantz, a recording that similarly blended old-time, bluegrass, and folk in a freewheeling ’60s sort of fashion….

CIRCA BLUE ONCE UPON A TIME Orange Blossom Records No Number Readers of these pages may well be aware, I always gravitate to a swinging, country/jazz type song. There’s a good one here on Circa Blue’s third release—their first on Orange Blossom Records. The song is called “Tripped, Stumbled And Fell,” written by Dawn Kenny…

THE COMPLETE 5-STRING BANJO METHOD: BEGINNING, INTERMEDIATE, MASTERING BY NED LUBERECKI Alfred Music 44932, 44935, 44939. (Alfred Music, P.O. Box 10003, Van Nuys, CA 91410-0003, www.alfred.com.) This three-volume set will take the student from the raw fundamentals to being a knowledgeable player with improvisational skills, if they follow the path set out by the author….

JOE MULLINS & THE RADIO RAMBLERS SACRED MEMORIES Rebel Records CD-1863 Once again, Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers have returned to the deep, abiding well of bluegrass gospel where, from time to time, they seek—and find—renewed inspiration. Sacred Memories is a worthy sequel to the band’s last gospel outing, Hymns From The Hills, from…

THE ROUNDER BOOK OF BLUEGRASS TRIVIA BY BILL NOWLIN Rounder Books 1579402518. (Rounder Books, 29 Lancaster St., Cambridge, MA 02140.) Trivia buffs will enjoy this new book of bluegrass music trivia by Bill Nowlin, co-founder of Rounder Records. Nowlin got the idea for this book after he started writing the “Bits & Pieces” trivia column…