Eddie and Martha Adcock with Tom Gray and Friends – Many A Mile

EDDIE AND MARTHA ADCOCK WITH TOM GRAY AND FRIENDS
MANY A MILE
Patuxent Music
PXCD228

This is an interesting project. Eddie Adcock and Tom Gray were there in the early days of the Country Gentlemen, and here they revisit the catalog from that band. Starting with the title cut, we get smooth readings of some of the best material from this landmark band. Bluegrass Unlimited’s own Pete Kuykendall sings baritone on his composition (one of two here) “Down Where The Still Waters Flow.” Here, as throughout this project, the harmonies are one of the highlights.

Adcock’s banjo reprises his earlier attempts, and it is sweet to hear his distinctive licks, leads, and fills throughout the project. It is a treat to hear the banjo and bass lines giving the music a gentle swing that is often lost in the music today. They work this well in the original Adcock banjo piece “Nightwalk.” Missy Raines and Tom Gray play bass on this project and it is not clearly delineated in the liner notes who is on which track, but a long-time fan may figure it out. It won’t be easy as these two are among the elite best in the genre on that instrument.

Martha Adcock is a fine singer, but she is different than Charlie Waller. She brings a depth of feeling and her special something to each lyric, imbuing it with her special vocal touch. As much of this music is drawn from the folk era, her delivery works quite well on this material. Gene Johnson provides some fine mandolin and harmony vocals. These 14 cuts are all from the heart of the Country Gentlemen’s prime catalog. No fan of that band or these folks should miss this fine recording. (Patuxent Music, P.O. Box 572, Rockville, MD 20848, www.pxrec.com.)RCB