Reviews

The Alex Leach Band Esteemed singer/songwriter producer Jim Lauderdale, who has collaborated with everyone from Ralph Stanley to Roland White, produced this album. In the liner notes, Lauderdale calls Leach, a former member of Ralph Stanley II’s band, “one of the most talented musicians I’ve ever met.” I’d be willing to take Lauderdale’s word on…

Garrison, Gordy, Hargreaves, And Walsh This new project is a collaboration of four musical friends who are long-time veterans of the music industry. Greg Garrison is the bassist and has played with such artists as the Punch Brothers, Lyle Lovett, and Leftover Salmon. Grant Gordy is the guitarist and is a veteran of David Grisman’s…

The Kody Norris Show For a minute or five, a listener might think they’ve pulled the latest Kody Norris Show CD from the vintage bin, not from the new releases pile of 2021. Don’t let the young face fool you—the sound is deeply traditional on All Suited Up. None other than bluegrass veteran Greg Cahill…

Branded Bluegrass Indiana-based Branded Bluegrass decided to try a few different things with the release of their third album.  Somebody’s Child is a bit of a departure from the usual traditional bluegrass the band favors. The group also added some special guests of note to play on the project — Shawn Lane, Michael Cleveland, Steve…

It’s my honor to get to listen to this project by Caleb Bailey of Virginia, who has assembled 10 original vocal tunes into a must-have CD.  Bailey presents listeners with an all-star cast of artists who lend their musical and recording skills, resulting in one of the more memorable projects I’ve heard in a while. …

—New York: Ten Speed Press (2020)  Thirty years ago IBMA honored the late DJ Bill Vernon, who became estranged from his family after he left Wall Street for bluegrass record collecting. We located his brother, who turned out to collect classical records. Dust & Grooves illuminates 130 major collectors in many countries and genre in…