Ron Block has a new album, Leiper’s Fork Christmas, just now released in time for December. For the second year in a row, the noted multi-instrumentalist of Alison Krauss & Union Station fame has recorded a set of instrumental music with his readings of classic holiday favorites.
The 2016 project follows in the footsteps of last year’s release, Carter’s Creek Christmas, with stately acoustic versions of songs we all remember from Christmases past. Ron supplies the banjo, flatpicking and finger style guitar, with help from Barry Bales on bass, Tim Crouch on fiddle, mandolin, and percussions, and Jeff Taylor on piano and accordion.
Included are 10 tracks taken from the old time catalog like Hark The Herald Angels Sings, Away In A Manger, We Three Kings, Jingle Bells, and several others. All are performed in a somewhat low key, chamber grass style that would be perfectly suited for all your December get togethers.
Leiper’s Fork Christmas is available as a $10 download from Ron’s web site, along with his other recent recordings. He has a number of specially priced packages allowing you to download both of his Christmas albums for a discounted price.
This would also be a great introduction to acoustic string music for folks on your Christmas list who may not yet be ready for bluegrass vocals. Ron has audio samples online for all the various tracks if you want to check it out.
