Reviews

ALISON BROWN THE SONG OF THE BANJO Compass Records 746582 How many diverse sounds can you evoke from the banjo? When it’s Alison Brown holding the instrument, the answer is ad infinitum. But she limits her creative stretching to 12 songs and one bonus track on her new CD. “Most listeners don’t know how to…

TIM O’BRIEN POMPADOUR Howdy Skies Records HOW-CD-2015 Tim O’Brien has been busy collaborating with Darrell Scott, Earls Of Leicester, and Hot Rize. So, it’s little wonder that the award-winning folk and bluegrass singer/songwriter has taken four years to release this solo project, but it was definitely worth the wait. He’d started on an album a…

CHRISTOPHER HENRY I’M GONNA WAIT ON JESUS Arrendem Music AR 270 Christopher Henry’s latest all-original recording recalls in some ways his previous effort Making My Way To You. There was bluegrass on that one, and there’s bluegrass on this one, specifically the gospel tune “I’m Gonna Wait On Jesus” and “Miss Missing You.” But as…

THE SWEET LOWDOWN CHASING THE SUN No Label No Number The Sweet Lowdown is a Canadian band from Vancouver Island featuring Amanda Blied on guitar and lead vocals, Shanti Bremer on banjo and lead vocals, and Miriam Sonstenes on fiddle and lead vocals. They are joined by Sam Howard on bass, Adrian Dolan on mandolin,…

BILL RUNKLE AND SMITH HOLLOW LONELY TONIGHT Patuxent Music CD-275 Bill Runkle was the long-time banjo player in Del McCoury’s Dixie Pals, before Del fully incorporated his sons into the family business. York County, Pennsylvania is a wee bit of the South that ignored political boundaries. Bluegrass predominated there. Bill Runkle reprises many of his…

THE FARWELLS: DEBRA CLIFFORD AND BECCA WINTLE Tin Halo No Number Debra Clifford is known as half of the Lonesome Sisters and as a member of Old Buck. She met Becca Wintle in the U.K., though Wintle had already immersed herself in American old-time music. They both sing lead and harmony and play guitar. Wintle…