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Ordinary Soul
Stephen Mougin Dark Shadow Recording Stephen Mougin’s recent release, Ordinary Soul, is his highest-profile entry to date. He’s flown somewhat under the radar as the long-time guitarist in the Sam Bush Band, but with this entry, Steve has established credentials as a top-notch singer, songwriter and producer. Mougin’s warm, expressive voice and dazzling guitar chops…
Time to Pick
Alan Sibley & Anthony Howell Noxubee Hills Music Group NOX-CD-002 I expected that those who are connected in business associations would speak well of each other in the media. It’s good public relations. Sometimes, those PR statements hit the nail flush. This is true in the case of Deering Banjo Company CEO Jamie Deering who…
The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project – Vol 1
Fiddle aficionados and students of the work of John Hartford should be delighted with this recording. Note, these seventeen tracks do not contain “the lost” performances of Hartford, nor is this a tribute album. It is the first effort in documenting some of his work that was found in his archives by family members and…
Electric Bluegrass
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited MagazineMarch, 1969, Volume 3, Number 9 I was a witness to the Osborne Brothers recent debut in my area with all electric instruments. Sonny had a super secret pickup inside his banjo that no one was allowed to see. To make certain of this, he actually had his resonator attached with…
The Return of Donna Stoneman—First Lady of the Mandolin
Re-printed from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine June, 1983, Volume 17, Number 12 Back in 1971, Bluegrass Unlimited conducted a poll asking readers to list their favorites among pickers of standard bluegrass instruments plus lead, and tenor vocalists. Significantly, when the results were announced that December, all but one who placed in the top ten in…
On The Road with Tony Rice
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine April 2006. Volume 40, Number 10 For several years, Tim Stafford (songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist for Blue Highway) has been working on the authorized biography of flatpicking guitar pioneer Tony Rice, collecting interviews with dozens of Tony’s peers and friends in the bluegrass community. In 2003, journalist Caroline Wright asked…