Articles

THE BLUEGRASS HALL OF FAME: INDUCTEE BIOGRAPHIES 1991-2014—BY FRED BARTENSTEIN, GARY REID & OTHERS—Holland Brown Books 9780989754415. Hardbound, with photos, 242 pp., $39.95. (IBMM, 207 E. Second St., Owensboro, KY 42303, www.bluegrassmuseum.org.) It’s hard to imagine, but there will come a time when the name Bill Monroe will sound as remote as Stephen Foster does…

BRIAN GODCHAUX & SANDY ROTHMAN THE RED FIDDLE & SILVER BANJO: FIDDLE AND BANJO, THE LONG FORM Tone Bar Records TBR-980    From time to time, we’re treated to a recording of banjo/fiddle duets. For folks who play these instruments, these recordings hold a special interest. The interplay of this format goes all the way…

JAKE SCHEPPS QUINTET ENTWINED Fine Mighty Records 1004 As the title implies, this new project from the Jake Schepps Quintet is a musical conglomeration that takes intriguing twists and turns with the quintessential bluegrass combo of banjo, mandolin, guitar, violin, and bass. Schepps turned to several composers who struck his fancy to write classic music…

CEDAR HILL MISS DIXIE, TOM T. AND ME Blue Circle Records BCR-042 When a band comes within the orbit of Blue Circle Records, it reaps the benefits of access to the masterful songwriting of Tom T. and the late Dixie Hall. Cedar Hill has been in that orbit since 2007. This is their fourth album…

ROBERT EARL KEEN HAPPY PRISONER: THE BLUEGRASS SESSIONS Dualtone Records 80302-01685-27 Keen is a gifted Texas singer/songwriter in the tradition of Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and Lyle Lovett. Even though he’s never before made a full bluegrass album in his thirty-plus-year recording career, he grew up around bluegrass and loves it. And, as his…

RONNIE RENO LESSONS LEARNED Rural Rhythm RUR-1030 The mood of Ronnie Reno’s latest is thoughtful, sentimental at times, wistful at others, the presentation relaxed. Nothing feels hurried. That includes the solos from Mike Scott on banjo, John Maberry on mandolin and Steve Day on fiddle. Several of the songs are at a quick tempo so,…