Reviews

Jody Stecher is a long-time performer and promoter in the old-time, bluegrass, and folk music scene. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Stecher began playing at the age of twelve and grew to gain a background of those music styles, while learning to play guitar, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin. His collaboration with his wife Kate Brislin…

At 85, it is not impressive that Del McCoury is still making music.  What’s impressive is how darn good it is and how that voice is as strong and classic as ever. The beloved bluegrass musician has headlined his band for 35 years and has hit yet another home run with Songs of Love and…

The world of bluegrass music can certainly expect great things from Amanda Cook, who brings us her earthy and wildly artistic album Restless Soul. This is her fifth record from Mountain Fever where she’s worn many hats; recording artist, engineer, and now CFO.  Her fourth studio album Changes debuted #1 on the Bluegrass Billboard Charts…

At the end of May, Jacob Jolliff released his latest album, Instrumentals, Vol. 2: Mandolin Mysteries on Adhyaropa Records. If you are familiar with Jolliff, you have probably listened to Instrumentals, Vol. 1, released in 2018 when Jolliff was a youthful 27 years old. Now in his mid-thirties, this new album of originals reflects Jolliff’s…

Mohavisoul is based in the San Diego area and takes its name from California’s Mojave Desert. While the band’s musical approach is contemporary, it recognizes its bluegrass roots in both the song writing and arrangements of covers.  The band consists of Randy Hanson (mandolin), Mark Miller (guitar), Orion Boucher (bass), and Jason Weiss (banjo). They…

Annick Odom, lead singer and principal songwriter of this trio—named after a wild flower that proliferates in Appalachian West Virginia—grew up in two cultures and spend her formative years in both West Virginia and the Netherlands, where she formed this band.  Sweet Joe Pye currently divides its time between Europe and the Morgantown, West Virginia,…