Articles

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine August 1983, Volume 18, Number 2 When is a bluegrass band not a band but an “ensemble”? What is the difference? Some people may think that “ensemble” is only a fancy name for a group —a word used in publicity material sent out to secure the more elite gigs like…

Veteran Tina Adair has a lovely voice with a bit of a teardrop in it.  After growing up in a family band, she launched her solo career at age 17 on Sugar Hill Records. She’s more or less stayed in the game since then. She spent a number of years as part of the Grammy-nominated…

Don Giovanni Records,  Dg-271 RASA is a Sanskrit term for defining an artist’s essence. This project was first recorded and released in 1980 and created a fusion of music from East and West that became a much listened to and talked about undertaking. Now the project has been remastered and is again being made available,…

The Steep Canyon Rangers have championed what has become known as the Carolina sound for well over 20 years. On Morning Shift, the group’s 14th studio album, they continue doing what they do best…crafting songs around stories.  This is the first album since founding member guitarist/vocalist Woody Platt decided to step away to spend more…

Colorado-based Orchard Creek—Dave Richardson, vocals, banjo; Keith Murdock, vocals, Dobro; Jan Springer, vocals, guitar, Kevin Slick, vocals, mandolin and Todd Ball on base—emerges fully formed on their first full-length album, with fine musicianship, including some stirring harmonies, as well as intriguing, artfully crafted original songs. The band’s accomplished harmonies don’t just hint at bluegrass oldies…

The Kentucky Colonels were as progressive and innovative as Billy Strings is today and Osborne Brothers were before them. The guitar magic—there’s no other word—conjured by Clarence White, melding with his older brother Roland’s dry, almost plaintive vocals and spot-on Monroe style mandolin, created a thrilling new sound. The highlight, to many fans was their…