Reviews

The members of Rock Ridge have been entertaining folks around the Oregon/California area for over a decade. Formed by Rick and Josie Grant, the couple was joined by Dale and Suzanne Adkins in 2019. The quartet is known for their hard rhythm, great vocals and forceful instrumentals. With Rick Grant on mandolin, Josie Grant on…

From the twin cities of Minnesota come this interesting trio who formed around five years ago. They are Isabel Dammann (violin), Krissy Bergmark (tabla), and llan Blanck (guitar). Along with guest Olivia Diercks (cello), the group has produced a very pleasant all-instrumental project that has its roots in tradition but is quite modern in approach….

Jim Lauderdale has earned his reputation as the consummate collaborator over the course of his career and his latest collaboration with bluegrass powerhouse The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (PRB) banks as one of his best in his extensive 36 album discography.  The album is one of the best traditional bluegrass albums I have heard in a…

If you listen to Hammertowne’s latest album and then read that it’s the band’s fifth album in 10 years, you might wonder why you haven’t heard more of their work on the radio. You Can Learn A Lot From a Song comes in hot and doesn’t let up through the 10 song play list. This…

Chosen Road’s latest release, It Never Gets Old is a collection of soulful gospel tunes highlighted with wonderfully blended vocals and instrumentation. The group has been together for over a decade and produced a chart-topping album, Appalachian Christmas, last year. This reviewer was fortunate enough to review Water Grave a few years ago—an early, solidly…

University of Missouri Press  Howard Wight Marshall, a Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri, has recently completed his trilogy covering the history of fiddling in the state of Missouri.  The first book in the series, titled Play Me Something Quick and Devilish (2013) begins with what is known about fiddling from the time of…