Kurt & Andrea Stephenson

Kurt & Andrea Stephenson

Traditional bluegrass fans will find a lot to like in the first release by the husband-wife duo of Kurt & Andrea Stephenson.

The self-titled album features a dozen tunes that will be familiar to first generation fans.  The couple kicks things off with Reno & Smiley’s “Sockeye” and ends with the group’s “Banjo Medley.” In between are a pair of Louvin Brothers songs, Alan Munde’s instrumental “Peaches and Cream” and an Eddie Adcock cut.

Kurt is the banjo player for a hot and on the rise band, High Fidelity, who had several charted singles in the past year. Joining this project on fiddle is his bandmate Corrina Rose Logston. Rounding out the group is Curtis Mann on bass and Andrea sings and plays guitar. David Pierce plays mandolin on several tracks and Jeff Smith provides vocals and mandolin on others. 

It’s definitely a showcase for Kurt, whose hot picking helps push the drive for High Fidelity and stands out on this record in a way Don Reno would be proud.  As with most traditional bluegrass albums, this effort also includes its share of gospel songs, perhaps the best of which is “After While.”

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