CHAD DAROU

CHAD DAROU
RAISING THE BAR

Bell Buckle Records
BBR 140

Chad Darou is a resonator guitarist originally from Florida and now resides in Pennsylvania. He also plays guitar, banjo, mandolin, and bass. He’s performed on the Grand Ole Opryand has toured with Bill Keith, James King, The Gibson Brothers, Lonesome River Band, Del Reeves, Bill Harrell, and Frank Solivan. This is Darou’s debut solo release and includes a few of his own compositions, along with some familiar tunes. He’s joined by Rick Faris (guitar), Dan Eubanks (bass), and Nick Dumas (mandolin), and includes a host of guest artists. Vocal leads and harmonies are shared by Cia Cherryholmes, Alecia Nugent, Valerie Smith, Dana Phillips Schacher, Dave Adkins, and David Carey. Darou’s “Raising The Bar” kicks off the album accompanied by Eubanks and Faris. Other Darou cuts include “The Road” with Mike Munford (banjo) and Jim VanCleve (fiddle), “High Dry & Lonesome” with Greg Cahill (banjo), and “Kristin’s Tune” with Darou on resonator guitar. The familiar tunes include “Tennessee Blues,” “On My Way Home,” “What I Like About You,” and “Peace Of Mind.” “Paddy On The Turnpike” features Cahill, VanCleve, and young Ryan Paisley (mandolin). There is a nice version of Hazel Dickens’ “A Few Old Memories,” and the project closes with an interesting version of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb,” with Darou playing many of the instruments and backing vocals, assisted by Hussein Jiffry (bass), Tom Brechtlein (drums), Jonathan Coleman and Anthony Ubriaco on vocals.

Darou is an excellent player and it’s nice to hear not only his own songs, but also his approach to some of the other more familiar material. (www.bellbucklerecords.com)BF