Reviews
The Joe Maphis Flat-Picking Spectacular
In broad strokes, two family trees define the evolution of playing fiddle tunes and bluegrass leads with a flatpick on acoustic guitar. One tree sprouts in Deep Gap, N.C., where Doc Watson’s majesty led to players like Bryan Sutton and Billy Strings. The other branch originated in southern California, where young Clarence White took influences…
Banjo V-I
The musical journey of Dave Richardson has gone from Mingo Junction, Ohio to the Front Range of Colorado with a detour through Hawaii and California. Listening to this new album it’s obvious that he’s gathered inspirations all along the way and with the availability of virtual instruments and recording software his musical explorations and imaginations…
I Am A Pilgrim
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Doc Watson’s birth, FLi Records/Budde Music have released an impressive tribute CD that both honors the indelible legacy of the guitarist and singer from Deep Gap, North Carolina, while involving musicians and styles far from Doc’s country roots. I Am A Pilgrim features tracks from bluegrass stars…
Hold Back The Dawn
IBMA 2022 Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year Nominee Anthony Howell from Mississippi is one of those versatile artists who can fulfill a variety of roles in a bluegrass setting. He released an independent recording in March 2023, which contains fourteen tracks. He plays all the instruments and wrote three instrumentals. If that isn’t enough, he…
Live at Spanish Ballroom
Jake Eddy is a new name amongst flatpickers. But his new solo CD, Live at Spanish Point, is further evidence we live in the golden age of flatpicking. Playing strictly as a solo flatpicking act here, Eddy shows he’s as much a master of this difficult disciple as David Grier or Steve Kaufman. One critical…
Declarations of Love: Unexpected encounters, passions, music, and recipes to reunite us
Italian Beppe Gambetta is very well-known to guitar players in the flatpicking guitar world. He is an extremely talented guitarist, educator and entertainer who effortlessly provides great joy to his audience through his effervescent passion and commitment to, and enthusiasm for, his craft. In this new book, Beppe’s passion and love for both music and…