ROSIN IN THE AIRE, A COLD FROSTY MORNING

ROSIN IN THE AIRE
A COLD FROSTY MORNING

Rita Records
0101

This enjoyable debut album by Rosin In The Aire reveals a highly versatile band. Based in the Puget Sound region of Washington State, the ensemble’s love of music and its cumulative years of experience shine through. Leanne Cardinale (bass, hammered dulcimer), Tim Cardinale (guitar), Denise Glover (mandolin), and J.P. Wittman (fiddle) are all fine lead and/or harmony singers as well as instrumentalists, with Allan Walton providing solid support throughout on banjo and lead guitar.

Rosin In The Aire’s eclectic sound is based in mainstream bluegrass while highlighted by enjoyable forays into progressive ’grass (such as the opening track, a lively interpretation of Eddie Adcock’s banjo instrumental “Turkey Knob”), old-time classics (notably their version of the Ola Belle Reed and David Reed classic “I’ve Endured”), early country (Jimmie Rodgers’ “Peach Picking Time In Georgia”) and even pop evergreens (“Just Because” and “Bei Mir Bist Du Schon”). Their consistently pleasant music at times has some welcomed extra bite to it, as witness their beautiful and plaintive version of the Barry George Dean/Lori McKenna/Liz Rose song “My Love Follows You Where You Go.”

Among the album’s high points are three selections from the soundtrack of the documentary film Big Water Runners Of The Colorado River: “Natalia’s Waltz,” “Bonny At Morn,” and the album’s title track “Cold Frosty Morning,” which feature quite lovely fiddle, hammered dulcimer, and mandolin stylings. Let’s hope that A Cold Frosty Morning is only the start of Rosin In The Aire’s day in the sun as a wide-ranging, fan-pleasing band. (Tim Cardinale, 36729 218th Ave. SE, Enumclaw, WA 98022,  www.rosinintheaire.com.)RDS