Stories Of Valor
Maryland’s Roger Cline has put together a nice collection of mostly original material on this new project of stories about bravery, courage, tenacity and about those who have it. He is joined here by a host of musicians including: Scott Freeman (mandolin), Debbie Durant & Tom Hensler (bass), Gary Hultman (resonator guitar), John Scott Walker (banjo), Nikki Wright (fiddle), Dennis Hertzog (viola) and Stephanie Powell (conga/shaker).
Cline plays guitar and sings lead on all but one song. Harmony is supplied by Jeanette Williams, Debbie Durant, Johnny Williams, Ursula Sheaffer, Colleen Craven, and Tom Beers. Originals include “Endless Fields,” the title song “Stories of Valor,” “Shepherd,” “Long Time Gone From Brooklyn,” co-written with Gary Ferguson and with lead vocal by Jeanette Williams. Other Cline tunes are “Call of Duty,” “The Revelator,” “Hold On,” and “Painting On The Wall,” co-written with Vern Culp. There is also an instrumental, “Saturday Shuffle,” which lets everyone cut loose, and there is “Crown of Thorns” written by Ira Stanphill.
Cline has a pleasant voice and a nice way around the guitar and is superbly backed by his supporting cast. Look to see some of these songs possibly picked up by other artists.
