Reviews

BYRON BERLINE JAMMIN’ WITH BYRON Double Stop Music DS-CD03 This is a 22-cut fiddle extravaganza featuring solid array of guests. But Berline demonstrates quickly he can do it alone on the fine “Byron In The Highlands,” one of the many great original tunes included here. Berline tackles not only the repertory of bluegrass with “Cattle…

THE KARL SHIFLETT & BIG COUNTRY SHOW TAKE ME BACK Pinecastle Records PRC-1177 Karl Shiflett is no newbie, and he has certainly found a niche for his music as well as carved out an image with his retro look, style, and CD design. His fans will not be disappointed on any of those counts with…

AUDIE BLAYLOCK AND REDLINE HARD COUNTRY Rural Rhythm RUR 1100 It’s hard to imagine a singer with a more friendly, accessible, and energetic musical presentation than Audie Blaylock. There’s nothing fancy or eclectic about Blaylock’s style; it’s just damn good and immensely appealing and all-bluegrass, all the way. Whether Blaylock’s singing a supercharged anti-cheatin’ song…

RAFE & CLELIA STEFANINI LADY ON THE GREEN, OLD TIME TUNES & SONGS Old Willow Tree 001 The Stefanini family has a long tradition in fiddling. Rafe’s father taught violin in Italy; Rafe’s brother Bruno is a renowned violin maker, and now Rafe, who has become one of the pillars of the old-time community in…

REDWINE RED No Label, RW 007 International bluegrass has been thriving since the 1970s when the first overseas bands began appearing at American festivals. Italy’s Red Wine has been one of the best. Their latest album confirms that. The band has had some personnel changes since 1978 (most notably co-founding guitarist/vocalist Bebbe Gambetta, who has…

GEOFF UNION COLD AS STEEL Shining Castle Music 1201 It’s a safe bet that in all of bluegrass music there has not been a song that mentions steel corrugators or 26-guage panels. Until now, that is, for singer/guitarist Geoff Union has corrected that omission with “Cold As Steel,” a “true life” tale rich in detail…