DONNA ULISSE

DONNA ULISSE
TIME FOR LOVE

Blue Records
BBR-1092

This is Donna Ulisse’s eleventh solo project, her first since signing with Billy Blue Records, and her second to be produced by her friend Doyle Lawson. She’s an award-winning songwriter, and her songs have been recorded by such artists as The Bankesters, Claire Lynch, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Larry Stephenson, and Lawson himself. She was awarded IBMA’s Songwriter Of The Year in 2016, and her song “Just A Drifter” was IBMA’s 2017 Song Of The Year, recorded by Volume Five. She was also named Songwriter Of The Year by SPBGMA in 2017.

On this project, she’s joined by Greg Davis (banjo, guitar), Cody Kilby (guitar), Stephen Burwell (fiddle), Doyle Lawson (mandolin), Mason Nolen (mandolin), Evan Winsor (bass), Josh Swift (resonator guitar), Nathan Fawcett (percussion), and Rick Stanley (vocals). Rick Stanley is also Donna’s husband and the two of them co-wrote most of the selections on this project in collaboration with other writers such as Jerry Salley, Marc Rossi, Wayland Patton, Travis Bryan, and Ali Shumate. Selections include “When I Go All Bluegrass On You,” “Heart Of Rosine,” “Come To Jesus Moment,” “Hi Lonesome,” the gospel “I’m Not Afraid,” and the title “When We’ve Got Time For Love.” Donna also covers Patsy Cline’s “Seven Lonely Days,” and The Seekers’ old hit “I’ll Never Find Another You,” given an up-tempo flavor.

Since many songs from her previous albums are still included on the various bluegrass music charts, some of these new ones should find their place, too. Donna’s beautiful vocals are featured right out front with the band’s ’grassy sound and firmly held under Lawson’s excellent production. This is another well-done, welcome project from the very talented Ulisse. (Billy Blue Records, 124 Shivel Dr., Hendersonville, TN 37075, www.donnaulisse.com.)BF