Reviews

GARY BREWER & THE KENTUCKY RAMBLERS 40th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Stretch Grass Music SGM-4050 With over four decades of music under his belt, Gary Brewer has come full circle with 40th Anniversary Celebration. Since cutting his teeth on bluegrass music in his early teens, Brewer has honed his skills by playing with Bill Monroe, J.D. Crowe,…

TOMMY JACKSON NASHVILLE FIDDLER: THE COMPLETE SOLO RECORDINGS COLLECTION and more bears AMB 71002 This is an amazing six-CD set that is astounding in its scope. Every one of Jackson’s solo recordings that feature his hoedown fiddling are here. Even if the CD cover says without calls, there are calls on some tracks. These are…

KENNY AND AMANDA SMITH WITH YOU FarmBoy Records FBR-1005 With their latest release, Kenny and Amanda Smith have delivered another polished, lush-sounding bluegrass CD filled with Amanda’s IBMA award-winning voice and Kenny’s similarly lauded flatpicking guitar. Opening with the sublimely engaging “Change,” Amanda’s voice grabs the listener at the first line. “I’ve Not Forgotten You”…

DARYL MOSLEY THE SECRET OF LIFE Pinecastle Records PRC1241 It’s about dang time! Isn’t that what a lot of you thought when you heard that veteran bluegrass musician Daryl Mosley had put out his first solo CD? The much-awaited anticipation is well worth it. Fans know Mosley most recently from his founding membership with The…

NATE LEE WINGS OF A JETLINER Adverb Records No Number Nate Lee goes on his first solo flight with Wings Of A Jetliner. Produced by fellow Becky Buller Band member Professor Dan Boner, Lee’s debut showcases what the 2015 IBMA Momentum Award-winning Instrumentalist Of The Year can do with mandolin, vocals, and composition. Wings Of…

PHARIS AND JASON ROMERO BET ON LOVE Lula Records Lula-CD-2006 With Bet On Love, British Columbia’s Pharis and Jason Romero continue to burnish their already lofty reputation as leading producers of stellar new songs informed by old-time, folk, and bluegrass music. Showcasing and exploring the potential of Pharis’ lustrous vocals, Bet On Love also finds…