Articles

DANNY ROBERTS NIGHTHAWK Mountain Home 15232    Ten years ago, I reviewed Danny Roberts’ first solo recording, Mandolin Orchard, giving it solid marks. Now comes Nighthawk, a step up all across the board. Begin with the sound quality improvements. If you remember his first, you’ll notice this immediately. This is much clearer, much more sonically…

MATT WALLACE FOR A SEASON Pinecastle Records PRC-6515    There have been many albums recorded over the years by sidemen and women, some that were great and some that let you know why the headliners are the headliners. I have to admit, I wasn’t all that familiar with Matt Wallace before listening to the CD….

BRADFORD LEE FOLK AND THE BLUEGRASS PLAYBOYS SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY No Label No Number Since Bradford Lee Folk’s recording seems centered around lyrics, that will draw the most attention here. That said, some mention of the musical settings is necessary. A couple of them are straight-ahead bluegrass, the one with the most traditional drive being…

SPECIAL CONSENSUS AND FRIENDS COUNTRY BOY: A BLUEGRASS TRIBUTE TO JOHN DENVER Compass Records 7 4627 2    The late John Denver never really played bluegrass music, but he wasn’t shy about using the fiddle and other bluegrass instruments on songs such as “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” and others. And, over the last…

I DRAW SLOW WHITE WAVE CHAPEL Pinecastle Records PRC1187    I Draw Slow’s second album for Pinecastle Records, White Wave Chapel, draws from the many roots and branches that have made up the underlying ingredients of bluegrass music over the years. Not a standard bluegrass album by any means, the recording is an amalgamation of what…

ONDRA KOZÁK ATAMAN Bluegrass music is, thankfully, an international endeavor. Even so, more can always be done to reach out to lovers and performers of the music whether they be in Japan, Italy, Australia, or the Czech Republic, where scenes are already established, or in many other countries ripe for good tunes. The Czech Republic…