Reviews

LARRY SPARKS ALMOST HOME Rounder Records 11661-0662-2 Larry Sparks has been the real deal for years now. What I mean by that statement is that he is his own self, a bluegrasser with an original style who, at times, has a personality that is right peculiar in the best sense of that word. And, like…

JAY ARMSWORTHY I COULDN’T MAKE IT WITHOUT HIM Blue Circle Records BCR-027 Those familiar with Jay Armsworthy’s past recordings will know he works in a calm, even-handed singing style and with a soft, mid-range voice. While he can and does rise up on occasion, letting the emotion fly when necessary, his is a style and…

ALLERTON & ALTON BLACK, WHITE AND BLUEGRASS Bear Family Records BCD 16559 AH Just when you think you know everything there is to know about early bluegrass, along comes a CD like Black, White And Bluegrass and a duo like Allerton and Alton. So what, you may be asking? Well, check this out: not only…

DELTA REIGN HOME No Label No Number When a regional band produces a debut CD, it usually falls into one of two categories. Either they cover a variety of familiar favorites in order to appeal safely to a wider audience, or else they’ll lean heavily on original material in order to carve out their own…

BLUE MOON RISING STRANGE NEW WORLD Rural Rhythm 1070 And then there was one. On what is Blue Moon Rising’s third album, only guitarist Chris West remains from the original lineup. The current band is Brandon Bostic on mandolin, lead and harmony vocals, Tony Mowell on bass, lead and harmony vocals, Owen Piatt on banjo…

THE GRASCALS THE GRASCALS & FRIENDS: COUNTRY CLASSICS WITH A BLUEGRASS SPIN BluGrascal/Cracker Barrel 1002 What’s better than this sextet performing bluegrass? The same six players jamming on country classics. Terry Eldredge, Jamie Johnson, and Terry Smith put their passionate vocals into overdrive for this 13-song collection, and for this project, they invited along eight…