Jeff White - The Broken Road - ROU-0386 - 14 cuts - 34 min.

Rounder Records, One Camp Street, Cambridge, MA, 02140

Jeff White's professional bluegrass legacy began in 1981 when he won the Kentucky Fried Chicken national band contest. He went on to play guitar in Alison Krauss' "Union Station", next to "Weary Hearts" and on to be one of Tim O'Brien's "O'Boys". Since 1992 he has been playing guitar and singing with Vince Gill. His latest album "The Broken Road" is more of a continuation of his highly successful first recording "White Album" than a follow-up. A lesser-known talent stepping forward and the superstars backing him for a project is a formula that works and will continue to work. White's lead vocal work and guitar picking are second to none. Of course it doesn't hurt to have Vince Gill or Alison Krauss sing harmony or to have Gill/mandolin, Jeff Guernsey/fiddle, Pete Wernick/banjo, Mike Bub/bass and Jerry Douglas/dobro back you instrumentally. White is not as famous as his bandmates on this project, but he is every bit as talented and is not overshadowed in the least. Top picks from this album come from the eight originals that White co-wrote "The Only Girl", "Lonesome As It Gets" and "Bet On An Angel".

Sugar Hill Records. PO Box 55300, Durham, NC, 27717-5300

The band Blueridge is making a name for it's self as a hot new band, but some of the members are already know as some of the top bluegrass artists around. Bluegrass veterans Terry Baucom on banjo and Alan Bibey, mandolin are the most recognizable names of this quartet. Both have a long list of credentials and were together in IIIrd Tyme Out in the 90's. Randy Graham is on bass and Wayne Winkle handles the guitar work. All four members of the band contribute vocally and special guest Ronnie Stewart sits in on with his fiddle. This album is best described as, an outstanding collection of twelve brand new songs all given the traditional treatment by this fine group. Baucom and Bibey are in fine form on their respective instruments and the vocal work is beyond reproach. The fact that band member names pop up five times in the writing credits only adds to the overall appeal of this band. Listen for the Bibey/Bowman instrumental "Shoot The Moon", the hard driving "Appalachian Queen" and the instant classic "I Don't Know Why". With this album Blueridge sets the bench mark for contemporary bluegrass bands.

Guy Donis, Rue Henri Bles 25, 4000 Liege, Belgium

Right from the first note on this CD you can tell this band has something different. The harmony vocals, mandolin chops and banjo fills are all right there, full power and full blast with the lead vocals. This wall of sound makes their performance about as subtle as a freight train, but it works. Band members Guy Donis banjo/vocals, Andrew Deherder guitar/vocals, Patrick Jacquemin bass/vocals and Jean-Pierre Woos provide the raw hard-edged lead vocals with tight harmonies and blistering yet imaginative lead breaks. The band lists Newgrass style as an influence but 20 years of isolation from the main stream has given them a chance to evolve into a new style that could be the next cutting edge. The risk of living on this fringe is pushing the limits too far. Only one song of the 14 comes close to crossing the line, the others are all fresh innovative new songs or revitalized standards. The play list is taken from a wide range of styles, country, folk, rock and jazz, all drawn into the bluegrass fold once given the "Gold Rush" treatment. Highlights include some of the bands original work on this CD, the title cut "Jigsaw", "I Looked Down" and "It's All Alright".

Copper Creek Records, PO Box 3161, Roanoke, VA, 24015

Ron Spears has made some huge contributions to bluegrass. If you study the writing credits on albums like Lou Reid & Carolina, The Bluegrass Cardinals and IIIrd Tyme Out you are sure to come across Spears' name. Therefore it is only natural that for his debut album he would be the dominant contributor, writing eight of the twelve tunes on "My Time Has Come". While this album showcases Spears' ability as a song writer and gives you a chance to hear these future classics the way the artist intended it is so much more. Spears is a fine guitarist and lead vocalist and performs locally with his own band "Within Tradition" and tours nationally with "Rhonda Vincent & The Rage". For this project some of bluegrass' top artists back Spears'. Craig Smith/banjo, Dan Tyminski/mandolin, Jim Van Cleve/fiddle and Marshall Willborn/bass form the core of the band with Lou Reid, Greg Luck and James King adding vocals. It's difficult to pick from such a super group of songs but Spears' "I'd Like To Wander Back", "Jenny Lynn" and "Virginia From Kentucky" are all destined to be classics along with Willborn's "Heart Of A Little Mountain Girl".

Pinecastle Records, PO Box 456, Orlando, Florida, 32802

In 1994 New Vintage burst onto the scene by winning the Pizza Hut International Bluegrass Showdown. That was followed by two critically acclaimed releases, "No Time For The Blues" and "Sands Of Time". The founding members of Russell Johnson on mandolin and vocals and Earl Lewellyn guitar and vocals are back to preserve the core sound of New Vintage. Jody King banjo, guitar and vocals, Kim Gardner dobro and vocals and James Doncsecz on bass are the new additions that round out the group. The overall sound of this band is impressive. All of the breaks are smooth and the backup is tasteful giving all of the band members a chance to show their talent. Vocally the band is solid as they come with the advantage of having two great lead singers. Johnson's lead vocals are flawless on the 7 tunes where he sings lead and the sound of the band is just as powerful when Lewellyn steps up to the mike. Top picks include the Johnson/Dale Ann Bradley duet "You Put The Fun Back" and "Changing Times" two of the four Johnson originals plus Charlie Moore's "Old Chain Gang". Picking, singing, writing these guys do it all and do it well.

Jim Hurst & Missy Rains - Two. PRC-1102 - 14 cuts - min.

Pinecastle Records, 5108 S. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL, 32809

"Two" is the debut album of the team of Jim Hurst and Missy Rains. Each has had their own solo projects along with a long list of musical credentials. Missy Rains has long been known for her bass work, her innovative and passionate attack on her instrument has garnered her critical acclaim culminating in being named IBMA bass player of the year in 1998 & 99. Jim Hurst is a much sought after guitar picker and has lent his talent to touring country acts and bluegrass studio work. Recently, Raines and Hurst came together as members of Claire Lynch's Front Porch String Band. Hurst's playing is blistering hot on lead licks or subtle depending on the situation. Raines' bass work provides a solid foundation, and while the solos are less frequent she does let loose on a couple of intricate runs. The surprise of the album comes from the vocal work of the duo. As they split the lead work, it makes you wonder why they have not stepped forward before. An entire band could be built around either voice. Highlights of this CD include Raines' vocals on "How Long Must I Wait For You", Hurst singing "I'd Be Missing You" and the instrumental "Too Funky For Rhythm".

Vanguard Records, 2700 Pennsylvania Ave., Santa Monica, CA, 90404

This compilation was produced by Steve Buckingham. A job like this would certainly be the envy of any bluegrass fan, sifting through hundreds of classic cuts to make a CD of great bluegrass. On the other hand it could be quite difficult, with the limited space on one CD to decide what goes and what stays. Did he agonize over acquiring a balance of old and new, fast and slow, traditional and newgrass? Or did he just say the heck with it, this is what I like. Either way he did an excellent job with the selections with a nice mix of all styles of our music. Instrumentals run from Bill Monroe / Wheel Hoss, Flatt & Scruggs / Fire Ball Mail to Sam Bush / Cloverleaf Rag, New Grass Revival / Indian Hills and Jerry Douglas / Shenandoah Breakdown. Vocal styles represented are Doc Watson's folk tinted Deep River Blues, Stanley Brothers high lonesome version of The Fields Have Turned Brown, classic duet of Skaggs & Rice on Bury Me Beneath The Weeping Willow and the unmistakable clear voice of Alison Krauss and her hit Every Time You Say Goodbye. If a non bluegrass person asks you "what's so great about bluegrass?" play them this CD.

Wayne Erbsen - An Old-Fashioned Wing Ding
NG-CD-114 - 14 cuts - 40 min.

Native Ground Music, 109 Bell Road, Asheville, NC, 28805-1521 <banjo@circle.netx&x xgtx;

Multi-instrumentalist and music historian Wayne Erbsen has been recording and giving us the story behind the songs for about a dozen albums now. He has uses music to cover a variety of topics from American history. He has shown us the music and origins of the songs from different eras such as the Civil War, the Railroad, the Cowboys and the Outlaws. His latest effort "An Old Fashioned WingDing" gives us a sampling of the music that was played at house parties, barn dances and other get togethers during the early 1900's. Erbsen is in fine form as he handles all the guitar, fiddle, banjo and mandolin work for this collection of instrumentals. Justin Hallman adds bass. The thirteen traditional tunes are all very recognizable old time melodies, some which have evolved into or from popular pieces known by a different title. And Erbsen sorts this all out for us in the liner notes. Songs that stand out for bluegrass fans are "Red Wing", "Goodbye Liza Jane" and "Dill Pickles (Rag)". "Spooning In The Parlor" is not from the time period of all the other songs as it is an Erbsen original and fits quite nicely.

Compass Records, 117 - 30th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee, 37212

Alison Brown played a lot of banjo in different bands and on the contest/festival circuit. In 1989 she became well known in bluegrass as the banjo player for Alison Krauss' Union Station. During that three year run the group recorded the Grammy winning "I've Got That Old Feeling" and she was named IBMA's 1991 banjo player of the year. Since then she has been involved in music, recording five of her own albums and co-founder of Compass Records. Unfortunately for us most of her music has been on the fringe of bluegrass. But, this album changes all of that. Brown shows that she is a master of the five string, switching with ease between the standard hard driving three finger style and her own unique touch. Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, David Grier, Tony Rice, Missy Raines are just some of the stars that add to this recording. Vocal picks on this CD are "Fair Weather" (Vince Gill) and "Humming Bird" (Claire Lynch). "Shake and Howdy" and "Leaving Cottondale" are two of the eight Brown originals on this CD. It's been almost a decade since we heard bluegrass from this great artist. Here's hoping we don't have to wait that long again.

In the liner notes David Grisman tells the story of how he got together with Tony Rice and Jerry Garcia in his studio for two nights of impromptu jam sessions and the whole session was recorded by his engineer. Garcia's copy was later stolen from his kitchen by a pizza delivery boy and that tape made it's rounds on the boot-leg circuit. That eventually prompted Grisman to release this "official" version of these tapes. What we get is a rare glimpse or three amazing musicians kicking back and playing. No agenda, no play list and no rehearsal, sometimes sticking to the script of the song but often as not wandering off into new territory, just for fun. A result we hear extended versions of songs as one of the trio takes a turn at improvising an elongated break, a real treat from one of these masters. Some of the prime examples of this are a made on the fly tune "Guitar Space" that runs into "Summertime" or "So What". Five of the cuts are referred to as "Appetizers" for the most part they are idle chit chat, blown intros, or just goofing around. Some have a language warning and are marked as spicy in the credits. My favorite "Tony it's a F#@$in' pleasure playin' with you man!"

Special Consensus - 25th Anniversary - PRC-1101 - 20 cuts - min.

Pinecastle Records, 5108 S. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL, 32809

Twenty-five years ago Greg Cahill formed the group Special Consensus. While members of the group came and went Cahill's solid banjo work remained as the constant backbone throughout the history of this band. While most Anniversary albums are a retrospective of their past work, this CD starts out with a full 12 song album by the groups current members and then eight songs from past configurations are added. Today's Special Consensus has Cahill on banjo and Chris Walz on guitar and vocals. Recent additions to the group are two fine young musicians. Josh Williams who had his own band (Josh Williams and High Gear) picks mandolin and adds vocals and Tim Dishman acoustic bass and vocals. Special guest Jeff Guernesy sits in on fiddle on five selections. Top picks from this CD are "Stormy Waters", "A Long Time Gone" and "Sweet Temptation". This would make a fine recording on it's own, but add the eight bonus tunes that include band alumni such as Chris Jones, Dennis White and Tim Wilson you have an outstanding recording. Congratulations on the first 25 years and all bluegrass fans hope you have at least 25 more.

Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys - The Early Years - 79518-2 - 14 cuts - 39 min.

Vanguard Records, 2700 Pennsylvania Ave., Santa Monica, CA, 90404

In the beginning, before bluegrass became the musical genera that we know now, there was only one band. This CD "The Early Years" follows the evolution of this band from a poplar band of the day to the classic group that started it all. The period covered by this collection is from 1945 to 49. On the four tunes recorded in 1945 the banjo, guitar, bass and accordion, yes accordion, parts were all fairly simple. The more intricate music came from the fiddle of Cubby Wise and the vocals and mandolin of Bill Monroe. For the remaining 10 tracks the band consists of Monroe and Wise, plus Flatt guitar, Scruggs banjo and Howard Watts a.k.a. Cedric Rainwater on bass. It is on these tunes that you can hear the trade mark bluegrass styling of blistering instrumentals and tight, three and four part harmonies. The songs on this recording are all well known and have been re-recorded hundreds of times over the past 50 years, but, listen to the original "Blue Grass Breakdown" recorded in 1946. It hasn't been done better since, or how about "Kentucky Waltz" with an accordion break. This is a must have CD. Where else could you hear the birth of bluegrass?

Ralph Stanley II - Pretty Girls, City Lights - REB-CD-1760 - 12 cuts - min.

Rebel Records, PO Box 7405, Charlottesville, VA, 22906 <rebel@rlc.netx&x xgtx;

"Pretty Girls, City Lights" is Ralph Stanley II's follow up to his highly successful "Listen To My Hammer Ring". Naturally, being the son of one of the top banjo pickers in bluegrass his first banjo lesson was on his father's knee at the age of three. At the age of five he switched to guitar and at the ripe old age of 12 decided he wanted to play professionally. After years of practice he took his place as lead singer with his father's Clinch Mountain Boys. On this CD he is front and center on every song, playing rhythm guitar and expertly handling the lead with his rich baritone vocals. He is backed by Ralph Stanley on banjo and the Clinch mountain Boys, especially the mandolin work of John Rigsby and James Alan Shelton and Junior Blankenship who share the lead guitar work. Top selections from this recording include "It's Raining Here This Morning", his own song "I'll Remember You In My Dreams" and "Sea Of Regret" where special guest Russell Moore sings harmony. As we follow the career of this talented new star we can see that the "Stanley Tradition" takes on a new meaning and will continue for another generation.

The Slack Family Bluegrass Band - Planetary 8105 - 13 cuts - min.

Planetary Records, 2614 W. Cary St., Richmond, VA, 23220

The Slack Family Bluegrass Band has hit the ground running for their self titled debut CD. It consists of a nice blend of well done but not overused traditional pieces plus four solid band originals. The band calls the Richmond Virginia area home and has been touring the eastern United States for the past two years. This CD should give them national exposure and make them a much sought after band. The band consists of Andy Burns on mandolin, Nick Harlow banjo, J. "Cuda" Jones upright bass, Pete Smith dobro and Joe Wharff guitar. Special guest James Baily adds his fiddle on four tracks. Wharff does most of the lead singing. He is ably backed vocally by Burns and Jones who both take the lead on one cut each . All of the tunes on this CD hit the mark but Wharff's "Caroline", the tight harmonies on "Old Home Place" and the blistering picking on the instrumental "Groundspeed" showoff the bands considerable and varied talents. The only the name remains a mystery. Their last names are all different so they don't appear to be a "Family" and there is certainly no "Slack" in this tight five piece band.

1st July 2001