By Eric Kwiatkowski

Thursday January 25th 2001 saw a welcome return visit to Nottingham by Special Consensus, once again presented by our local tireless workers, Geoff and Pat Bowers, for the good of bluegrass. Geoff was again at the venue (The Test Match Inn, West Bridgford) several hours before the gig, setting up to ensure that the evening ran as smoothly as possible. After last minute problems with a 5th. string spike on Greg Cahill's banjo, the evening began - and what an evening! Since the group's last visit, there are two new members - Tim Dishman on bass and Josh Williams on mandolin and fiddle. The evening's music was hot! Early in the first set, Josh played his own composition Logging Camp, and showed early on what a talent this 20 year old has. He's been playing mandolin for eight years and already sounds like a seasoned pro. reminded me a lot of Jimmy Gaudreau in style and stage manner, tackling instrumentals such as the classic Daybreak in Dixie (aka Ralph's Banjo Special) to Herschel Sizemore's Rebecca, with some terrific variations. He also fiddles (Katy Hill, Cherokee Shuffle, and Sally Goodin) and sings leads and harmony, as well as winning banjo contests in his younger days (!). He's from a musical, bluegrass - orientated family, and has been playing music since 8 years of age. Tim Dishman is a great bass player - plenty of variety in his lines and a terrificstrong tenor and lead voice - the way bluegrass should sound. Geoff supplied two acoustic basses for Tim to choose from for the gig - how's that for service?

Josh Williams, Chris Waltz, Tim Dishman, Greg Cahill

Chris Walz played the same stylish lead guitar as before, and there seemed to be a touch more power in his voice this time. Greg Cahill was playing a Czech banjo, built by Jaroslav Prucha, and what a sound! All the guts, clarity and punch I've heard from any bluegrass banjo, and ideally suited to Greg's mixture of traditional and newer stylings, from Sally Goodin to the swing Sweet Temptation

Thirty six or so numbers were played during the evening and one - I Can't Sit Down - was an unaccompanied four part gospel song which was beautifully performed, and went down a storm with the audience. Walls of Time was given a really heartfelt treatment by Josh on lead vocals, and I enjoyed hearing Many a Mile in the last set - it's long been a favourite Country Gentlemen song of mine.

There was a real buzz among the departing audienceat the end of the evening and no wonder! Real hard driving bluegrass mixed with just an occasional dash of swing, and a variety of good songs. If anyone hasn't seen this group yet, you MUST! They have a web site, www.specialc.com if you want to know more. This gig was part of a European tour and they played in the British Isles from 20th January to 10th February.

Thanks to Geoff and Pat for all their hard work - it was great!

Eric Kwiatkowski, Nottingham

1st Feb 2001