Reviews
Day by Day
Norman Blake, who has recorded and collaborated with everyone from Bob Dylan and Joan Baez to Johnny Cash and Tony Rice, is a devoted keeper of the keys to the heritage and history of American popular music. Blake’s latest record—which he recorded in a single afternoon in a Fort Payne, Alabama studio—contains of couple of…
Playin’ in this Town
Maddie Denton may be one of the best fiddle players you’ve heard, but not heard of. That might change with the release of her debut album, Playin’ in this Town. A veteran of the fiddle competition circuit, Denton has won 14 state titles in five states since 2008. She also handles fiddle duties for the…
Till The End Of The Road
Turnberry Records TBR-110 “Starlett & Big John” are Starlett Boswell (vocals, bass) and “Big” John Talley (vocals, guitar). Together they are joined on this project by Jonathan Dillon (mandolin), David Carroll (banjo), and Ron Stewart (fiddle). They are also helped by special guests Mo Canada (guitar), and Skip Cherryholmes (vocals), who also co-produced the album…
Swing For the Fences
Usually the expression “about what I expected” is tossed around as a somewhat salty comment. However, when it comes to the new offering from aptly named The All Stars of Bluegrass, it’s a good thing. After all, what do you expect from top notch pickers such as Phil Leadbetter (resonator guitar), the late Steve Gulley…
Dream Rich, Dirt Poor
Aaron Burdett is a Western North Carolina singer-songwriter who is the recipient of many songwriting awards from a variety of competitions such as Merlefest, Mountain Stage, WNCW Magazine and others. On this project he has a backing cadre of musicians that include Kim France (bass), Daniel Ullom (mandolin), Carley Arrowood (fiddle), Tony Creasman (percussion), David…
Old-Timeless Conversations
(Exploring And Celebrating Traditional Music) Chris Silver plays fiddle, mandolin, and guitar while Craig Evans plays frailing banjo. Together they are supported by Chris’ son Ari Silver on bass. Both are veteran Upper-Midwest musicians, Silver from Wisconsin and Evans from Minnesota. They each have extensive performing and touring experience in the U.S. and abroad. They…