Reviews

Curios This is the second recording from San Francisco based Scroggins & Rose, a duo presenting twelve original tunes. Unlike their 2017 project, Grana, (reviewed in this publication in October 2017), this new project contains all original instrumentals and it builds somewhat on the first recording. It expands their creativity as they draw on Bach…

DYLAN McCARTHY LOST & FOUND No Label No Number This seven-track recording takes us through a range of originals all featuring McCarthy’s fine mandolin playing. With prior experience with classical piano and time spent at Berklee College of Music, we are treated to the new sounds that are modern bluegrass. There are elements of jazz…

THE ROE FAMILY SINGERS ROLL UP THE RUG! Bonfire Music Group BRC5016 The Roe Family Singers are Kim Roe on vocals, autoharp, banjolele, washboard, and spoons and Quillan Roe on vocals, banjo, and archtop guitar. There are nine other folks playing a variety of instruments, including musical saw and kazoo (uncredited). There are two original…

THE COCKMAN FAMILY LETTER FROM HOME CF RECORDS BMI-07272 Since forming in 1988, this North Carolina family unit has recorded multiple projects that feature a gospel approach to their original tunes and covers of older lesser-known tunes. The Cockman Family is led by father John Cockman (guitar) with siblings Caroline Cockman Fisher (vocals), John Cockman,…

JAKE BLOUNT SPIDER TALES Free Dirt Records DIRT-CD-0007 Jake Blount is an award-winning banjo and fiddle player based in Providence, R.I., whose awards include becoming the first black artist to win the annual Appalachian String Band Music Festival in West Virginia. Blount studies and performs the music of black artists of the Southeast, and even…

THE WILDMANS Travianna Records TR2005100 The Wildmans are a young brother/sister duo from the Roanoke, Va., area. Aila plays fiddle and sings lead while brother Eli plays mandolin and adds harmony. Longtime friends Victor Furtado (banjo) and Sean Newman (bass) round out the group. Guests on the project are Nick Falk (percussion), Nate Leath (fiddle),…