Author: David Morris

I have a problem with Becky Buller. There I said it. My problem: After a couple of earlier reviews of Becky’s music, I’m running out of adjectives to describe her latest Dark Shadow Recording project, Crepe Paper Heart. How many ways are

Steve Mandell, who played one of the most recognizable guitar parts in bluegrass history, died today. Mandell, who stayed active in the Baltimore-area bluegrass community until his death, had prostate cancer. If you live away from the Baltimore-Washington D.C. area, you might

The other night, I had the chance to attend a concert by Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen with a few friends 40 and younger. One was new to bluegrass, one a recent convert from a long dormant classical career, and

When new music arrives from Joe Mullins and The Radio Ramblers, you can pretty much guarantee hearing traditional bluegrass songs about love, regret and hope, with a bit of Gospel added for good measure. You’ll hear tight harmonies and clean

It’s time for my annual compilation of favorite recordings of 2017. It is decidedly subjective, not necessarily the best overall, but what caught my ear and imagination. There’s just one caveat: I don’t include recordings that include songs or liner notes

Kirby Parker, a two-time president of the Alabama Bluegrass Music Association and widely known ambassador of bluegrass music, died Monday after suffering from ALS. Parker led the Log Cabin Band, named after his home in Leeds, AL, where he hosted a

The latest Mountain Home Music CD from Donna Ulisse is one of those “on the one hand, on the other hand” propositions. On the one hand, Ulisse’s Breakin’ Easy is a textbook example of top-notch traditional bluegrass songwriting. Every listen unveils

The Wooks - Arthur Hancock, Aaron Bibelhauser, Roddy Puckett, and C.J. Cain Aaron Bibelhauser, who has made quite a splash as a bluegrass songwriter in recent years, has a new outlet for his music. He’s joining The Wooks, a Kentucky-based bluegrass

Like many of us, Rhonda Vincent was deeply moved by Ernie Thacker’s poignant video disclosing that a widespread infection would take his life, and seeking donations to help pay for his funeral and medical expenses. But while just about everybody else

I read a shocking statistic the other day: 56 percent of Americans have started their Christmas shopping. Shocking because I hadn’t even ordered a Thanksgiving turkey yet, let alone given a single thought to Dec. 25. Well, I still haven’t ordered