Reviews

Besides being one of the most gifted banjo players on the scene, as well as a polished composer, Alan Munde is also someone who apparently knows how to have a good time and share his upbeat vibes with others. Munde has said that “playing music is the most fun of all.” The genesis of his…

This family band out of the Midwest sure makes some righteous noise on their sophomore release.  Katie Greer is simply a remarkable singer and mother Kathie’s and brother Jase’s harmonies support her hand-in-glove. Jase also does a yeoman’s job on lead on a pair of cuts. The vocal arrangements that veteran producer Jim Van Cleve…

Tim Stafford has a rather extraordinary resume.  He’s an alumnus of Alison Krauss’s Union Station. He’s a founding member and long-time guitarist with the eminently popular band, Blue Highway, and he’s recorded five solo albums along the way.  In the studio, he’s backed everyone from Willie Nelson and Kenny Chesney to Tony Trischka and Larry…

Nashville musician and songwriter, Charles Butler (banjo, resonator guitar) has gathered together a nice cadre of fellow musicians to back him up on this new project of all-original material from Butler. He is joined on the various selections by Brandon Birkedahl (bass), Billy Conteras (fiddle), Ian Craft (fiddle), AJ Fox (mandolin), Geoff Henderson (bass), Jeremy…

Billy Swinson is a bluegrass artist that has been playing and writing music for a couple of decades and has now stepped up his game with his first solo project and the help of resophonic guitar player Randy Kohrs.  Swinson, a Florida resident, wrote eight of the ten tracks and contributes the mandolin breaks and…

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…