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THE SAWTOOTH BLUEGRASS BAND GUNFLINT TRAIL No Label No Number Blessed with fine harmony, with three good lead singers (Jesse Moravec being a very good lead singer) and with impressive talent (particularly guitarist Clint Birtzer) at every lead and rhythm slot, any failure by the Sawtooth Bluegrass Band to make an impact musically falls to…

JAY UNGER & MOLLY MASON A FIDDLER’S HOLIDAY WITH THE JAY UNGER & MOLLY MASON FAMILY BAND Rounder Records 11661-9153-2 This is a live concert performed and recorded last fall at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va. While it is a little late for the 2012 holiday season, this project can be enjoyed…

THE STRAY BIRDS No Label No Number This Pennsylvania trio is a wonderful combination of musicianship and songwriting that fits well into any bluegrass, folk, or Americana setting. The band is Maya de Vitry (guitar, fiddle, banjo), Oliver Craven (guitar, resonator guitar, electric guitar, fiddle), and Charles Muench (bass, banjo), and all three share in…

Wiley & Sons 9781119942764. Paperback, 396 pp., $24.99. (The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, P019 8SQ, England, www.wiley.com.) By now it should almost go without saying that the word “Dummies” used in the titles of this series is not to be taken literally. There is more than enough information contained in this book, information…

CORY PIATT DAYDREAMS Patuxent Music PXCD-234 It is always a breath of fresh air when a new bluegrass CD arrives in the mail that pops from the first note to the end. And, it is even sweeter when the album is by a younger musician who is making their mark and striking out on their…

Mel Bay 9780786684533. CD included, 88 pp., $22.99. (Mel Bay Publications, #4 Industrial Dr., Pacific, MO 63069, www.melbay.com.) It’s early in the year, so there’s still plenty of time to get ready for this summer’s festival jam sessions. This book will help you get there. Besides being a talented bluegrass and jazz mandolinist, author Dix…