Mandolin player Darren Nicholson subtitles his new album, Fret A Spell, as Instrumental Bluegrass. Of course, the description isn’t really necessary. Given the fact that most of the offerings in this 13 song set are well known standards, the music itself offers
Author: Lee Zimmerman
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Steve ‘N’ Seagulls, a Finnish take on bluegrass and metal
Imitation is one thing. After all, it’s said to be the sincerest form of flattery. Emulation is also admirable. That’s the ability to trade on a technique and offer it homage, even while opting for originality, all at the same
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Deeper Roots, Where the Bluegrass Grows – Steven Curtis Chapman
It would be far too easy for Steven Curtis Chapman to rest on his laurels. After all, he’s one of the most heralded artists in Christian music environs, having accumulated no less than five Grammys, 58 Gospel Music Association Dove
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Carolina Red, Vintage 1978 – Red Wine
Hearing Carolina Red for the first time provides no hint whatsoever that the band that recorded it it, Red Wine, hails from any environs other than the United States. Indeed, the influences are so firmly imbued in solid bluegrass terrain
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Dede Wyland – Changes in Attitudes, Changes in Platitudes
Dede Wyland has seen many of the changes that have impacted bluegrass over the expanse of the past several decades. As a budding musician and eager enthusiast active in the early ‘70s, and then through to her latest album, the
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Along the Track – Steel and Wood
Steel & Wood make no apologies for the fact that they tap the tradition as far as their music is concerned. The only misnomer lies in the fact that the name of their new album — Along The Track is subtitled
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders – Blue Maxx maximizes the love
Bluegrass in Belguim? Who would expect that a tiny country like that would boast a band with a fondness for arcane Grassicana. Nevertheless, eight years after Blue Maxx’s initial formation, the band is still going strong, and gathering a loyal
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You’ve Still Got It – Damian Muller
Damian Muller is a knowing singer/songwriter, and while his sentiments may seem obvious and even simple to any outside observer, the thoughts he expresses ring true, especially to anyone whose outlook on life remains untarnished by cynicism or sarcasm. Touching on
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Chris Jones plots his course from roots to relevance
Credit Chris Jones and the Night Drivers for doing their part to expand the traditional tableau of bluegrass. While Jones has always offered his reverence for the roots, on his own, with his earlier outfits Special Consensus, Whetstone Run, the
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Old Country Store – Turning Ground
Turning Ground tends to eschew both posturing and pretence in their determination to deliver sweet sentiment and a rousing good time. The Salyersville Kentucky-based quintet — singer/guitarist Nathan Arnet, guitarist/harmony singer Ralph Adams, bassist/harmony singer Kayla Amburgey, banjo/harmony singer Josh