Reviews

ALAN TOMPKINS NO PART OF NOTHIN’ Bluegrass Heritage Music BHM-1012012 Bassist Alan Tompkins has assembled his dream cast of supporting musicians and produced No Part Of Nothin’, a 12-cut release of primarily bluegrass standards. Joining Tompkins on this project are no less than Ron Stewart, Sam Bush, Kenny and Amanda Smith, Randy Kohrs, Ned Luberecki,…

LEFTOVER SALMON AQUATIC HITCHHIKER LoS Records LoS 5050 Leftover Salmon has been on hiatus for a while with Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, and the rest of the bandmembers focusing on solo projects. But now they are back with Aquatic Hitchhiker, a wonderful comeback album that is full of fun and verve. The band has always…

THE JORDAN TICE TRIO THE SECRET HISTORY Patuxent Music CD230 The Jordan Tice Trio can best be described as the younger generation carrying on the String Nation traditions of forefathers like David Grisman, Darol Anger, Edgar Meyer, and more. The trio is made up of Tice on guitar, Simon Chrisman of the Bee Eaters on…

MARTY RAYBON HAND TO THE PLOW Rural Rhythm Records RCH-2014 In the interest of full disclosure, I’m a huge fan of Marty Raybon. So, he could sing a medical transcript, and I would stand for an encore. Peers like Gary LeVox, lead vocalist of superstar country group Rascal Flatts (“The greatest singer on the planet…

LAKE SIDE RISING UP Mercy Road Records MCYRD110811 Based on the music presented on this new recording from long-running Tennessee-based Lake Side, you’d have to classify them as a gospel group first, a country band second, and a bluegrass group third. Of gospel being first, there can be no doubt. That has been the focus…

BILL EVANS, IN GOOD COMPANY Native and Fine Records 906-9  Some musicians’ visions and scope far outstrip the confines of their chosen instrument. Earl Scruggs obviously had listened to more than the country music of his day. A close listening to his earliest work with Bill Monroe reflects not only an understanding of the swing vocabulary…