Reviews
He Walked On
Howdy Skies Records One of the many thoughts that came into my head as I isolated myself in the western North Carolina Mountains during the pandemic was a hope that musicians would step up and document these crazy times of half a million Covid-19 deaths, social unrest and the higher priority put on technology during…
Bridges And Backroads
Very Jerry Records — VJR-005 Since 1982, Jerry Salley has become one of the most accomplished and sought-after songwriters in country, bluegrass, and gospel circles. His songs have been recorded by many, many artists from such as Travis Tritt, Reba McIntire, and Brad Paisley to Chris Stapleton, Rhonda Vincent, Doyle Lawson, Patty Loveless, The Talleys,…
Livin’ In America
SWEET RIVER BAND SRB02 Sweet River Band is a five-piece group based in Nantes, France. This project showcases their affection for American music with a collection of tunes showing their influences of bluegrass, old time, blues, swing, folk, country, and even rock-and-roll. The group is Claude Cordina (guitar), Patrick Couton (banjo, dobro, autoharp), Sébastien Farges…
The Way I See It
Bell Buckle Records This is Daniel Crabtree’s fourth release and contains all-original material written by Crabtree. He is joined by Scott Vestal (banjo), Gaven Largent (resonator guitar), Patrick McAvinue (fiddle), Cody Kilby (guitar), Harry Clark (mandolin), and Dave Roe (bass). Guests include Evan Winsor (bass), and vocalists Aaron McClune, Rick Stanley, Donna Ulisse. Donna Ulisse…
Six Degrees Of Separation
Pinecastle Records—PRC1255 Steve Wilson formed the Wilson Banjo Co. as a promotional tool for his custom banjos, whose popularity among bluegrass musicians has grown quite a lot in the past few years. Located in the Westminster, South Carolina area, Wilson gathers together many local musicians and others to record his brand of the music. On…
The Rocky Creek Ramblers
Some years ago, these five talented musicians embarked on a long-term mission: to capture for posterity a particular strain of old-timey string band music that was often played at fiddler’s conventions back in the 1960s and 1970s. It’s a style that the Ramblers themselves have been immersed in for nearly a decade. In the liner…