Reviews

SCOTT HOPKINS No Label No number Scott Hopkins seems to be ready to add his name to the growing list of hot young banjo players. Based in Albany, N.Y., and currently performing with resonator guitar wizard Junior Barber’s band, Hopkins took to the road and recorded this CD of 11 predominantly original songs and tunes…

THE ROSENTHALS FLY AWAY American Melody AM-CD-5127 Father and son bring music from their diverse worlds together on The Rosenthals’ first recording Fly Away. Phil Rosenthal, who was the longtime singer/guitarist for the Seldom Scene and a highly respected banjo and mandolin player, joins his son, jazz trumpeter/composer Daniel Rosenthal, on this 14-cut disc. Although…

HAMMERTOWNE Mountain Fever Records MFR130409 Blessed with strong voices, above average picking skills, and some real talented songwriters, Hammertowne has come up with a fine recording. Six of the eleven tracks are originals, and all are strong. “Cherokee Maiden” is written to the melody of the fiddle tune “Cherokee Shuffle.” The vocals are all spot-on,…

IVAN ROSENBERG OLDIES AND OLD TIME Vole-O-Tone 003 In his concerts, Arlo Guthrie often tells a story of performing with Pete Seeger at a European folk festival. When asked to add to a series of iconic singalong songs from Seeger’s bottomless folk repertoire, Guthrie responded by leading the crowd in a version of “I Can’t…

BRANDED BLUEGRASS SIMPLE DAYS No Label No Number Out of Kokomo, Ind., comes Branded Bluegrass with Derek Dillman on banjo and guitar, Larry Norfleet on guitar and two tracks on mandolin, Jesse Norfleet on resonator, and Mike Martin on bass as well as hammered dulcimer on the instrumental standard “Angeline The Baker.” Randy Jones guests…

BUNCOMBE TURNPIKE FOREVER IT WILL BE No Label No Number What is most attractive about the latest recording from Buncombe Turnpike are the four story songs drawn from real characters and events in and around the group’s homebase of Buncombe County, North Carolina. Those four come from bassist Tom Godleski. This is not new territory…