Reviews

Skunk in the Alley This is a one man show, and it is impressive. Asti plays all of the instruments and moves between bluegrass and old-time music. He wrote three of the tunes here, including the title-track. He does an impressive job of twin banjos on “Reuben’s Train 45,” and his mandolin, fiddle and guitar…

Smithsonian Folkways The title alone should have you getting out your credit card. But if you need further enticement, this is a special and unique project put together by producer Peter K. Siegel from recordings he made in 1962 at gigs in New York City, where a then almost unknown guitarist and singer, Doc Watson,…

Ghost Tattoo This Americana band consists of Kristen Grainger, lead vocalist and writer for eight of the twelve numbers on the project; Grainger’s spouse, Dan Wetzel on guitar, vocals and octave mandolin; Martin Stevens on mandolin, fiddle and vocals; and Josh Adkins on acoustic bass and vocals. They form the band from across Orgeon and…

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…

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…

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…