Articles

EARL SCRUGGS AND FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREAKDOWN: THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN CLASSIC—BY THOMAS GOLDSMITH—Univ. of Ill. Press 9780252084782. Paperback, 200 pp., 12 b&w photos, $19.95. (Univ. of Ill. Press, 1325 S. Oak St., MC-566, Champaign, IL 61820, press.uillinois.edu.) This is a fairly short but rather remarkable book in which veteran music journalist Thomas Goldsmith, a…

JULIAN PINELLI BENT CREEK No label, No number    Julian Pinelli’s masterful fiddling fits perfectly with the modern approach to bluegrass and new acoustic music. Gorgeous tone, phrasing that harkens back to his roots in North Carolina that still carries a modern edge, technique that could play almost any style, and a gifted ear for crafting…

TOM MINDTE, MASON VIA & BEN SOMERVILLE 409 Patuxent Music CD-330 And now for something completely different might be the best way to describe this eclectic offering from the trio of Tom Mindte, Mason Via, and Ben Somerville. How else do you talk about blues, Rockabilly, Swing, gospel, rock, and a pass at a Bob…

RAY CARDWELL STAND ON MY OWN Bonfire Recording BRC5012 It’s easy to imagine Ray Cardwell singing and playing along with old Newgrass Revival recordings. That’s not too much of a stretch given his forceful rock-inspired vocals and his bass playing chops, not to mention his recruitment of guitarist Pat Flynn and resonator guitarist Curtis Burch…

JIM AND LYNNA WOOLSEY LONG AGO Bonfire Recording BRC5009 Jim and Lynna Woolsey are a couple from the Patoka Valley of Indiana who have been performing together for more than thirty years. Jim (guitar) and Lynna (vocals) are joined on this project by Mike Curtis (resonator guitar) and Dave Foster (bass). Rounding out the session…

TRICIA SPENCER & HOWARD RAINS THE OLD TEXAS FIDDLE VOL. III Tiki Parlour, No Number    Modern American contest fiddling is often described as Texas-style because that’s what is used in many contests, but there’s an older Texas fiddling style that is closer to old-time fiddling in Appalachia and other places. Howard Rains and Tricia Spencer…