Reviews

GOAT GLANDS TO RANCH HANDS: THE KFDI STORY—BY ORIN FRIESEN WITH BUD NORMA Rowfant Press 978-1-929731-24-4. Paperback, 225 pp., $19.95. (www.watermarkbooks.com)    Many readers of this magazine will know Orin Friesen from his years in bluegrass and with the IBMA, as a DJ, and a tireless and humble supporter of bluegrass and country music. I…

MEGAN McKAMEY HERE’S YOUR GOODBYE No Label No Number    This young East Tennessee native first picked up the banjo at age nine. She has developed into quite a good player and is currently part of the Tyler Williams Band based in Johnson City, Tenn. She has also become a very good songwriter, as this…

DETOUR GOING NOWHERE FAST Mountain Fever Records MFR140329    Right out of the chute, Detour lets you know they are no-nonsense new bluegrass with drive, taste, great harmonies, and the sweet singing of Missy Armstrong puts the icing on a great cake. The songs are uplifting and draw upon tradition without restating worn-out themes. On…

LEARNING TO FIDDLE, BLUEGRASS STYLE BY NEIL ROSSI—KdV Music kdvb-0001. Two CDs included, 225 pp., spiral-bound, $32.95. (KdV Music, 143 Huntley Rd., Westford, VT 05494, www.kdvmusic.com.) This thorough volume is a wonderful resource for the serious student of bluegrass fiddle. Not a long listing of hot licks or a series of tunes, it is a…

MICHAEL CLEVELAND AND FLAMEKEEPER ON DOWN THE LINE Compass Records 746342 This may be the best time ever in Michael Cleveland’s career. Known as one of the bluegrass world’s best fiddlers since he was very young, Cleveland and Flamekeeper have four IBMA Instrumental Group Of The Year nods and he has individually won nine IBMA…

OLD SOUTH THE HANGING TREE No Label No Number    Old South is a veteran bluegrass quintet hailing from Adelaide in southern Australia. They have experience, enthusiasm, a nice repertoire of original songs written in the traditional style, and a resonator guitarist named Leonard Cohen (who really should look into teaming up with the Seldom…