Reviews

VOLUME FIVE CHILDREN OF THE MOUNTAIN Mountain Fever Records MFR110401 You will like this. You may not think it’s the greatest recording of all time, or even that it’s among the ten best of the year, but you will like it. You could, I suppose, quibble with the inclusion of such warhorses as “More Pretty…

DAVE GIEGERICH IT’S ABOUT TIME No Label DG1001 I wish I had known Dave Giegerich, but after listening to this album, I feel like I did. Recorded between 2008 and 2010, this was Dave’s gift to the world as he battled an almost inconceivable series of ailments: throat cancer, aplastic anemia, and finally complications from…

THOMAS PORTER AND COPPER RIVER BAND TROLLEY DAYS No Label TKPIV003 How many of the 12 originals by guitarist Thomas Porter (two co-written with fiddler Doug Bartlett) will become bluegrass classics? Given the whims of the music business, the odds are long any of them will. Right now, you’re probably thinking it is too early…

BUDDY GREENE HARMONICA ANTHOLOGY Rufus Music RMCD195317 Banjo? Check. Fiddle? Check. Mandolin? Check. Harmonica? Huh? It’s not exactly the first instrument associated with bluegrass music, but fans will likely change their tune with the release of Buddy Greene’s Harmonica Anthology. This 16-song collection digs into a variety of genres from bluegrass, old-time, Celtic, blues, and…

ANN PORCELLA GATHERING STONES No Label No Number Ann Porcella has gathered a group of talented friends to help her on this solo release of 14 songs. She has Paul Brown on banjo, Mark Clifton on resonator and Weissenborn guitar, Ira Gitlin on guitar, Marcy Marxer on percussion, Al Murphy on fiddle and mandolin, Bill…

RICKY SKAGGS COUNTRY HITS BLUEGRASS STYLE Skaggs Family Records 698901012 I suppose if there’s a down side to having a hit song, it’s that you’re stuck with it for the rest of your professional life. No matter if you played it 12,000 times; your next audience isn’t going to be happy until you’ve played it…