Articles

KATHY KALLICK CUT TO THE CHASE Live Oak Records 590    The saying “Cut to the chase”—meaning “Get to the important thing right now”—goes back to the early days of motion pictures. Movie makers quickly learned that the public didn’t want to sit through lengthy encounters or explanatory titles. Whether it was a scrambling Keystone…

UNCAGED & FREE: UNDERSTANDING, IMPLEMENTING AND OVERCOMING THE CAGED SYSTEM—TAUGHT BY ROLLY BROWN—Stefan Grossman Guitar Workshop GW1015. DVD, 121 min., $29.95. (Stefan Grossman Guitar Workshop, P.O. Box 802, Sparta, NJ, 07871, www.guitarvideos.com.) The CAGED system gets its name from the common major chords C, A, G, E, and D that it uses to teach the…

MA CROW & THE LADY SLIPPERS MEMORY OF A MOUNTAIN Boopie Studios BPS005    This Ohio-based quartet has a lot going for it on this project. The steady guiding hand of Ron Stewart is one of those things, but it is the wealth of talent and experience from each member that really shines through on…

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…