Reviews

ETHAN HUGHES SEARCHING FOR A HOME Patuxent Music PXCD-226 Combing a keen sense of musicality and musicianship on resonator guitar with a strong lead vocal, young Ethan Hughes has created a debut CD that will probably create some interest and excitement among fans of modern bluegrass. Eschewing the alt-grass or jamgrass-style that has propelled other…

THE COLORADAS Hometown Caravan HTC 036 The first thing I notice that’s refreshing about Roy Davis and Bernie Nye, the Maine-based musicians that make up The Coloradas (a band from the John Hartford-to-Punch Brothers branch of bluegrass) is their lack of pretense. In their publicity copy, which begins with “Dear esteemed member of the media…

DETOUR A BETTER PLACE Bluegrass Ahead 1201 Three years after their second CD, Detour delivers an album on which the same high level of musicianship and creativity is maintained, but there have been changes to the personnel and the band’s sound. Mandolinist Jeff Rose remains the primary songwriter, contributing eight of the recording’s fourteen tracks….

VARIOUS ARTISTS MUSICIANS AGAINST CHILDHOOD CANCER: LIFE GOES ON Rural Rhythm RUR 1094 A few years ago, I wrote an article about the Musicians Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) benefit concert held every summer in Columbus, Ohio. At the heart of the event is Darrel Adkins, a long-time bluegrass promoter whose daughter Mandy died of cancer…

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…