WESTWEND, LINGER FOR A WHILE

WESTWEND
LINGER FOR A WHILE

Ante Flow Records
AR-0004

   Westwend is the duo of Wendy Crowe and Jonathan Maness. They have teamed up to produce a really nice selection of original tunes mixed in with some familiar ones. Joining them on this project is a cadre of excellent musicians including Bryn Davies (bass) Matt Leadbetter (resonator guitar), Richard Cifersky (banjo), Cody Bauer (fiddle), Mark Fain (bass), Jaret Carter (resonator guitar), Alan Johnson (fiddle), Andy Leftwich (mandolin), Rob Ickes (resonator guitar), Sam Bush (mandolin), Andy Hall (resonator guitar), Steve Lewis (banjo), Jason Goforth (harmonica), and David Browning (keyboards).

Their original tunes include “Dance Partner For Life,” “Bad Breaks,” “Ghost Train,” and the title “Linger For A While.” The cover songs include Melba Montgomery’s “Look Who’s Talking Now,” “Fourteen Karat Mind,” a jazzy version of Cheryl Wheeler’s “Summerfly,” “Freeborn Man,” and Keith Sewell’s “Wind In The Willows.”  Both Crowe and Maness are excellent vocalists and their harmony blends are almost like those of siblings. With a mix of bluegrass, Americana, and country, Westwend’s debut project is wonderful introduction to the music by Crowe and Maness, and the musicians effortlessly complement the arrangements while keeping the vocals in the forefront. This project is certainly a worthwhile listen. (Ante Flow Records, P.O. Box 58, Heiskell, TN 37754, www.westwendmusic.com.)BF