Scottie Sparks: Scottie Sparks

Scottie Sparks, Doobie Shea records 2001

Scottie Sparks first got work in bluegrass for his impressive lead guitar work. He started with the Wilson Brothers, next Dave Evans and then on to Redwing. But it was his vocal work that prompted Tim Austin to ask him to sit in on the Doobie Shea recording of "The Stanley Tradition". That was followed with an appearance on the follow-up "The Stanley Gospel Tradition" and recording with his own band, "Unlimited Tradition".

For his self titled solo debut Sparks is joined by Tim Austin, rhythm guitar; Dan Tyminski, mandolin; Craig Smith, banjo; Barry Bales, bass; Aubrey Haynie, fiddle. Lou Reid, Dwight McCall and Tyminski add harmony vocals.

Sparks has a bluesy style with an edge and a baritone voice that is a change from the high lonesome sound. None the less he is a traditionalist and it shows through out his work. Highlights on this disc include "Working On A Mansion," "In My Arms Instead Of In My Memory" and "Old Kentucky Hillside".

Scottie Sparks might have got his start in bluegrass playing guitar, but he has shown that he is much more and expect to hear more from this well rounded picker/singer.

PRC 1094 - 13 cuts - 27 min.

Pinecastle Records, PO Box 456, Orlando, Florida, 32802Over the years the banjo has become the most recognizable lead voice in the bluegrass instrumental family. And often as not there is the bass offering deep, strong, counterpoint the lilting banjo runs. That is the basic concept for this album as Marshal Wilborn provides the bass and nine special guests join him for some interesting duets. It is no coincidence that Wilborn picked this duet format for his first solo effort. He started playing banjo at the age of nine but switched when his group of pickin' buddies had lots of banjos but were short a bass player and the rest, as they say, is history. Wilborn's accomplishments on bass are legendary and he is known as one of the top bass men in bluegrass today. The duets on this album run the complete circuit of banjo styles from straight ahead three finger bluegrass to clawhammer, tenor and banjo dobro. As well as adding their banjo talents Alan Mundae, Tony Furtado, Pete Wernick and Lynn Morris all kick in with original compositions. Highlights include Furtado on dobro-banjo for "Muleshoe", Wernick's "High Steppin'" and "Owensboro Hop". East

Virginia: Back Home In East Virginia

CCCD-0168 - 12 cuts - 41 min. Copper Creek Records, PO Box 3161, Roanoke, VA, 24015In 1969 the McDonough brothers, Joe and Art, formed "The East Virginia Boys". By 1973 the band evolved into "East Virginia" and went on to receive critical acclaim for their four recording projects and numerous personal appearances. In 1981 the band decided to call it quits because their part time band was cutting into their family and professional time. Sixteen years later five former band members have reunited to take up where "East Virginia" left off. All band members are fine musicians and can all play very well but this bands long suit is their vocal work. Guitarist, Dave Ratcliff is a strong lead singer while Ron Barnes and the McDonoughs add the back up for some strong multi-part harmonies. Instrumentally Art is on bass, Joe resonator guitar, Barnes banjo, Harold Smith adds mandolin and special guest Rickie Simpkins handles the fiddle work. The writing ability of this band, six originals by Art and an instrumental each by Barnes and Smith helps give the band a their distinctive sound. All the originals are hits especially "Darling. That I Do", "Emily" and "Wearin' It Out". The sixteen-year hiatus certainly didn't hurt this band.

Classical Grass : Classical Grass Live In Concert

8 cuts - 47 min.

Class Acts, 14011 Melanie, Pearland, TX, 77581 <Tubabanjoguy@Hotmail.comx&x xgtx;

The band "Classical Grass" is made up of five very talented musicians. They are for the most part classically trained, hence the name. Bandleader Kerry Jones plays banjo has a degree in music and plays tuba. Chuck Gunn is a hot guitar picker. Andy Moritz plays bass in the band and with the Houston Symphony Orchestra. Greg Ewer, a classically trained violinist, also plays with HSO. He started playing bluegrass fiddle and Steve Jaap started playing mandolin just two years before this recording. This album is an all instrumental live recording and there is a lot of bluegrass here the classical roots certainly show. While introducing his original composition on this CD Jones says, "It starts off with a classical progression with a classical bass solo. Mutates into bluegrass and ends up somewhere else." This could be said about almost any song on this CD. The electronic trickery and non-traditional music may put off the purists but most will enjoy the ease at which these guys make classical music sound bluegrass and bluegrass sound classical. Hopefully we will hear a lot more from these young men and their distinct flavor of bluegrass.

Tim Farrell, PO Box 999, Fox Creek, Alberta, Canada, T0H 1P0 Write to Tim

1st April 2001