Reviews

University of Illinois Press Although not as well-known as the Southeastern United States, the Ozarks region of Missouri and Arkansas has long been a hotbed of fine old-time fiddling, folk ballad singing, and bluegrass music. One of the primary reasons that so many ballads and tunes from the Ozarks have been faithfully preserved over the…

From the Baltimore, Maryland area, the Union is Andy Belt (guitar, banjitar, vocals), Jon Ackerman (resonator guitar, lap steel), Tony Bonta (banjo, vocals), Noah Heming (guitar, vocals), Shawn Heming (mandolin, vocals), and Dave Markowitz (bass). Belt wrote or co-wrote all the songs on this project for which the title indicates much of the material came…

Poetman PMR 70088 Now thirteen, Phoebe White is a young lady from Appalachia who grew up influenced by the Western music performances of folks like Roy and Dale Rogers, Patsy Cline, Patsy Montana, and Jimmie Rogers. She has become a skilled singer and yodeler and plays guitar, mandolin, ukulele, piano and more. And, she has…

What a gift multi-IBMA “Female Vocalist of the Year” Award-winner Dale Ann Bradley’s voice is. At times, she sounds like a wonderful combination of Dolly Parton and a female Keith Whitely. On her latest album, which is a true masterpiece, she’s upped the ante by bringing in an array of other ultra-talented singers, including Larry…

Patuxent CD-360 Eddie Ray is a fiery, young, sixteen-year-old banjo player from North Carolina who grew up influenced by such bluegrass artists as Flatt & Scruggs and Reno & Smiley as well as Country, Latin, Jazz and more contemporary music. He is accompanied on this project by Danny Nicely (mandolin, guitar), Marshall Wilborn (bass), Patrick…

Molly Tuttle’s band is called Golden Highway and her new album is City of Gold and the first song is called “El Dorado.” The emerging theme here is something rare of high value and this CD fits the bill. Few acts have had the sustained heat of Tuttle and her supporting cast over the last…