Reviews

KELLEY NELSO IN THE WAITING Salvation’s Song Music No Number The first question a new listener of Kelley Nelson’s new CD might be, “Who is Kelley Nelson?” After a few minutes, the next question might be, “Why haven’t I heard of Kelley Nelson?” Not far behind will be, “Man, who are those pickers backing her…

SLEEPY MAN BANJO BOYS THE FARTHEST HORIZON No Label No Number At the heart of Sleepy Man Banjo Boys is a phenomenon not new to the world of bluegrass music. Going back to teenage musicians such as J.D. Crowe and Vassar Clements back in the day, and a pre-teen Ricky Skaggs being brought onstage by…

VARIOUS ARTISTS RAY EDWARDS: PORTRAIT OF A BLUEGRASS SONGWRITER Rural Rhythm RR 1106 If this CD release is any indicator, Ray Edwards is a talented and prolific bluegrass songwriter. With help from Silver Stirrup Music co-writers Terry Foust, Dick Minor and especially Larry Joe Cox, Edwards has written/co-written all 12 cuts on this release, which…

JUNIOR SISK & RAMBLERS CHOICE THE STORY OF THE DAY THAT I DIED Rebel Records REB CD-1851 Hot on the heels of IBMA awards for Song Of The Year (“A Far Cry From Lester & Earl”) and Album Of The Year (“Heart Of A Song”) in 2012, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice have cut loose…

LONESOME MELODIES: THE LIVES AND MUSIC OF THE STANLEY BROTHERS—BY DAVID W. JOHNSON—University Press of Mississippi 9781617036460. Hardcover, 304 pp., b&w photos, notes, bibliography, discography, index, $50. (Univ. Press of Miss., 3825 Ridgewood Rd., Jackson, MS 39211, upress.state.ms.us.) Much has been written over the past few years about the life of Ralph Stanley. John Wright…

AARON RAMSEY GATHERING Omni Artists Productions OACD 30102 You put in your time in the shed, you get some recognition, and soon find yourself with Mountain Heart playing mandolin and resonator guitar. For Aaron Ramsey, who followed that path, the logical next step was a recording of his own. Joining him for that debut are…