Reviews

PETER SOMERVILLE IN THE MORNING GLOW No Label No Number Australians, at least some of them, really love American old-time and bluegrass music. They aren’t as picky as Americans are about which is which, but they love it and play it just the same. Here banjo player, Peter Somerville plays both clawhammer and Scruggs-style banjo…

MIPSO DARK HOLLER POP Robust Records RBST008 What we have here is an indie rock/pop/Americana trio from Chapel Hill with Jacob Sharp on mandolin, Joseph Terrell on guitar, and Wood Robinson on bass. All three sing. At one time or the other, they learned and played bluegrass and old-time, and those musical forms weave through…

RENO & HARRELL RENO BOUND John Boy and Billy No Number This CD represents a reunion of sorts, in that Dale and Don Wayne Reno and Mitch Harrell, not surprisingly, spent a fair amount of time together growing up, living next door to one another in Maryland with their fathers forming the legendary Reno &…

MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY RED RIVER DRIFTER Red River Entertainment RRE-CD-052 Over the years, Michael Martin Murphey has carved out a well-established niche. Even his recent forays into bluegrass material have an immediately identifiable pop sound and musical approach flavored by his deep love of the West. Supported by bluegrass stalwarts Pat Flynn, Jason Mowbray, and…

BEPPE GAMBETTA THE AMERICAN ALBUM Gadfly Records Gadfly 518 Italian guitarist, Beppe Gambetta is considered by many musicians in the world as one of, if not the best, acoustic guitarists. His talent, his taste, and his execution are superb. In this latest release, Gambetta returns to the bluegrass field with a very nice selection of…

SHAD COBB & CHARLIE CUSHMAN OUT OF THESE MOUNTAINS A Simple Life Magazine No Number Take two accomplished sidemen and make a CD with them and you’re going to get some great music. Both of these players are well known in music circles and have worked with the best. Here they give us a program…