Reviews

SELDOM SCENE LONG TIME…SELDOM SCENE Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD40199  I felt a quiet sense of excitement and anticipation just opening this deeply inspired new retrospective collection and playing it for the first time. It’s a landmark release from a landmark band. It’s musical history. It goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway), the Seldom…

DAROL ANGER e-and’a Adventure Music America AMA1086 2 Given the innovative nature of Darol Anger’s wide-ranging musical explorations, it’s easy to look at a title like e-and’a and think, “Oh, maybe he’s just decided to go one step beyond DNA.” And then, when you learn that the title is derived from counting off a tune…

THE STEVENS FAMILY BLUEGRASS BAND DOWN ON THE FARM Mountain Fever Records MFR 140415 This is a wonderful project from this very talented family band. Both vocally and instrumentally, the band is tight. The father, J.W. Stevens, plays banjo and sings bass. Nancy is the mother and sings. There are the three brothers, Luke (guitar,…

DAVE AND EMMA HART HOLD ON Out of Town Records 01301 This talented father/daughter team has produced a wonderful project of original material that features the vocal and violin prowess of young Emma Hart. While only containing six selections, the CD allows plenty of room for both Dave Hart’s songwriting and Emma’s singing and playing….

GRAZZTRIO THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND Red Pigs Records 436039061873    I love the title of the Barcelona, Spain band’s debut CD, which is taken from the lead cut. Unlike the drunken escapades that might be expected from the song’s usual meaning, this three-piece experimental string band takes us on a serious frolic, covering a…

RANDY COOK AND COMMONWEALTH BLUEGRASS BAND No Label RCCBB2014    This is the debut recording for Randy Cook and Commonwealth Bluegrass Band from the Mechanicsville area of Virginia. Cook, the leader, is on mandolin. With him is longtime associate Malcolm Pulley on banjo. Both have deep roots in the Virginia bluegrass scene, including a stint…