Articles

PHIL SALAZAR & THE KIN FOLK PROJECT 1, PART 3 Filzar Records FZ0014 The thing here is the fiddling—it will steal your ears from hearing the other instruments, but the other instruments sound mighty fine, too. This is not hardcore bluegrass, but it’s a fun look at the greater realm of acoustic music. Yes, there…

THE OLD-TIME SNAKE MILKERS AND HOOT AND HOLLER MILKERS AND HOLLERS No Label No Number How can you possibly resist two bands, happily united for this album, with names like those? This delightful collaborative CD grew from a chance musical meeting. Hoot And Holler is the Asheville, N.C.-based duo of Amy Alvey (fiddle) and Mark…

DEANIE RICHARDSON LOVE HARD, WORK HARD, PLAY HARD Pinecastle Records PRC1215 Deanie Richardson has been working hard for a long time and has helped make many a show and recording a little better with her presence. Joined by a host of musicians, we are treated to her first-class fiddling on this magnificent showcase. From her…

CAROLINA BLUE BAND I HEAR BLUEGRASS CALLING ME Pinecastle Records PRC 1226 Bobby Powell and Tim Jones, founding members of Carolina Blue, now have five CD credits to their resume with their first Pinecastle Music release, I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me.From Brevard, N.C., Powell and Jones wrote 9 of the 13 tracks, along with banjoist James…

JEFF SCROGGINS & COLORADO OVER THE LINE Patuxent Music CD-325 For a band headed by an award-winning banjo player, one might expect its recording projects to heavily feature the banjo. No doubt Jeff Scroggins shines in many places on the band’s latest recording, particularly with his Reno-esque solo on the opening track “Big Train” and…

JOE WEED TWO STEPS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI Highland Records No Number Joe Weed has been around quite a while, producing atmospheric, acoustic projects that lay well on the ear with an uplifting feel to them. Each project has a theme, and here we are on a kind of road trip from the bayous of…