Reviews

FLETCHER BRIGHT AND BILL EVANS, WITH SPECIAL GUESTS NORMAN & NANCY BLAKE SONGS THAT ARE MOSTLY OLDER THAN US Native & Fine Records 906-11 “Thank goodness there are only three parts,” says Fletcher Bright as he kicks off the old-time fiddle tune “Elzic’s Farewell.” I mentally responded, “How could anyone tell, Fletcher, since all fiddle…

TRADITIONAL BLUEGRASS FIDDLE SOLOS BY ANNIE STANNIC No Label, No Number. (www.anniestaninec.com) Staninec is an Oregon-based fiddler who is making quite a name for herself, appearing on recordings by Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick, among others. In this book, she has transcribed 46 fiddle solos from a wide range of fiddlers including Kenny Baker, Curly Ray…

PETE DENAHY SINGIN’ SHOES No Label 80815 Such evocative titles and lyrics and some good music to match. Start with “Mr. Edwin Butson Has The Reins,” a song based on an 1890s mail-run between two towns in Australia from which the song’s author and singer Pete Denahy hails. It’s hard not to be drawn by…

FRANK SOLIVAN FAMILY, FRIENDS & HEROES Fiddlemon Music 7 4664 2 Frank Solivan takes a bit of a U-turn with his latest recording and the results are more grounded, more down-to-earth, and dare it be said, more traditional. Those of you expecting the expansive jazz and rock jamming that characterized much of his previous recordings…

JOHN HARTFORD AND HOWDY FORRESTER HOME MADE SUGAR AND A PUNCHEON FLOOR Spring Fed Records SFR-CD-110 Taken from cassette recordings made by John Hartford in the home of Howdy Forrester in 1986. These are informal recordings and the relaxed nature reveals two friends playing tunes, Howdy on the fiddle and John playing his banjo in…

NOTHIN’ FANCY BY ANY OTHER NAME Mountain Fever Records MFR151030 You have to admire the longevity and the dedication of Nothin’ Fancy. I first reviewed the band some time in the late 1990s, upon the release of Earn Your Ticket. They were just getting started, more or less, good but not great. All these years…