Reviews

BIG COUNTRY BLUEGRASS MEMORIES OF THE PAST Rebel Records REB-CD-1848 For nearly thirty years now, Big Country Bluegrass has played and recorded unabashed, straight-ahead traditional bluegrass music. I’m all for the roots and branches of the genre—progressive and otherwise. Still, it’s cool to hear a band who doesn’t just throw a hard-driving traditional tune into…

TATER PATCH OLD-TIME COUNTRY MUSIC No Label No Number Tater Patch has been playing out of the State of Delaware for more than thirty years. Their current personnel includes Judy Hough-Goldstein, fiddle; Marge Sume, fiddle, banjo uke, vocals; Tony Sume, guitar and vocals; Shel Sandler, banjo; and Richard Gordon, bass. This CD has 18 tunes…

JEFF SCROGGINS & COLORADO WESTERN BRANCHES No Label No Number Jeff Scroggins heads up a wonderful and talented group that includes himself (banjo), son Tristan Scroggins (mandolin), Greg Blake (guitar), Annie Savage (fiddle), KC Groves (bass), and guest Sally Van Meter (resonator guitar). Lead vocals are primarily performed by Blake, but Savage and Groves contribute…

CLAIRE LYNCH DEAR SISTER Compass Records 746102 What’s cool about Claire Lynch is that she’s comfortable enough in her own skin to be completely confident in her unique singing voice and style. Her latest album, Dear Sister, features five songs written or co-written by Lynch along with other carefully chosen gems. What’s refreshing about this…

THE EXPEDITION SHOW STORMY HORIZONS Mountain Fever Records MFR130514 Over the years, for good traditional bluegrass with a modern twist, you could always count on the Expedition Show to produce quality music, and their new album Stormy Horizons is no exception. Leading the band is bluegrass veteran musician and storyteller Blake Williams, who steps up…

STEVE MARTIN & EDIE BRICKELL LOVE HAS COME FOR YOU Rounder Records 11661-9150-2 Who doesn’t covet Steve Martin? Whether it’s acting, comedy, writing, or playing banjo, Martin oozes talent from every pore. For his latest CD with former bandleader of the New Bohemians and an accomplished soloist, Edie Brickell, the fleet-fingered Martin displays the more…