Articles

VARIOUS ARTISTS THE 1861 PROJECT, VOLUME 3: FRANKLIN Cohesion Arts No Number    It’s not often that historical research is recommended before listening to a bluegrass album. Here is one such case. So factually driven are the stories in Thomm Jutz and The 1861 Project’s Civil War trilogy, the listener can’t help but benefit from…

BREAKING GRASS JUST AS STRONG Mountain Fever Records MFR140708 When I reviewed the second Breaking Grass CD a couple of years ago, I was overwhelmed by a song called “Strings.” Though it didn’t generate the national response it deserved, it is still one of the best songs of the last ten years. Nothing here packs…

WESTWEND LINGER FOR A WHILE Ante Flow Records AR-0004    Westwend is the duo of Wendy Crowe and Jonathan Maness. They have teamed up to produce a really nice selection of original tunes mixed in with some familiar ones. Joining them on this project is a cadre of excellent musicians including Bryn Davies (bass) Matt…

DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER OPEN CAREFULLY, MESSAGE INSIDE Mountain Home MH15652    Doyle Lawson has put together many versions of his band Quicksilver over the last three decades. There have been times when just the right group of musicians have been in the fold, yet there have been other periods when up-and-coming stars leave to…

TIM STAFFORD JUST TO HEAR THE WHISTLE BLOW Hedge Drive Records HDR01    Tim Stafford had a hand in writing all but “Red Wing” among these 14 tracks. All five of the original instrumentals he wrote solo, each stylistically different and several worthy of extra mention, including “Father Nelson,” a minor-key fiddle tune that is…

AL JONES & THE SPRUCE MOUNTAIN BOYS HARD CORE BLUEGRASS Patuxent Music CD-249 The name Al Jones brings to mind several albums he cut with partner Frank Necessary in the 1980s. Jones was a major influence on the traditional bluegrass scene in the Washington, D.C., area starting in the 1960s, having performed with Earl Taylor’s…