Reviews

FRANK SOLIVAN & DIRTY KITCHEN COLD SPELL Compass Records 7 4633 2    It’s a bit of an over-simplification to pigeonhole Frank Solivan and his band as the early twenty-first century answer to the Newgrass Revival. But I think the comparison is apt, just as I think the presence of two former Newgrassers, John Cowan…

MIKE SCOTT AND FRIENDS THE OLD COUNTRY CHURCH Rural Rhythm RCH-2022    The last time out, banjoist Mike Scott and his friends—Bryan Sutton, Adam Steffey, Aubrey Haynie, Rob Ickes, Tim Stafford, and bassist Ben Isaacs—presented instrumentals from the Civil War era. With this recording, Scott and the same cast apply a similar approach to 13…

LONESOME RIVER BAND TURN ON A DIME Mountain Home MH 15632    A new recording from the Lonesome River Band. What more needs be said? Each new release is consistent and entertaining, and you can always find numerous excellent tracks among the good song selection and high-quality presentation. The group here is the same quintet…

MISSY WERNER TURN THIS HEART AROUND Hearth Music MWM-2014-1    Steeped in the musical traditions of the heartland, Kentucky and Ohio-native Missy Werner recalls classic moments of loneliness, spirituality, love, and time gone by in her latest release. In songs penned by some of the country’s brightest writers, seamlessly produced (Jon Weisberger), and sung passionately…

STEVE GULLEY FAMILY, FRIENDS & FELLOWSHIP Rural Rhythm RCH2020 Bluegrass veteran Steve Gulley’s first gospel outing is one fine album indeed. This powerful and soulful 14-cut collection features evocative renditions of classics such as “House Of Gold,” “God’s Not Dead,” and “Stormy Waters,” along with a trio of heartfelt Gulley originals: “Scars In His Hands,”…

FLATT LONESOME TOO Mountain Home MH15412    Flatt Lonesome’s rise in the bluegrass world has been a steady one. Guided by the knowledgeable hand of music veteran Andrea Roberts, who has been the group’s manager and booking agent, this troupe of talented musicians have stepped up to represent the younger generation when it comes to…