Compass Records 7 4293 2

Judith Edelman, youngest of 1972 Nobel Prize-winner Gerald M. Edelman's three children, grew up in New York's Upper East Side. After contracting a serious illness in Kenya, Judith returned to San Francisco to recuperate where she was inspired by a friend's tape cassette of groups made up of The Stanley Brothers, Tim O'Brien and The Nashville Bluegrass Band and began to study the bluegrass guitar.

In the mid-90s Judith set out on the bluegrass touring circuit with bands such as Coyote Ridge and Rystraw. While on the road Judith met her husband Matt Flinner who regularly appears in the Judith Edelman Band. Judith's first two albums on Compass Records, Perfect World (1995) and Only Sun (1998) both received critical acclaim with her contemporary musical influences of Celtic melodies, blues, jazz, country string bands and her own interpretations of bluegrass.

Judith and Matt have produced Drama Queen and includes a host of top musicians in the guise of Ron De La Vega, cello; Casey Driessen, fiddle; Stuart Duncan, fiddle; Matt Flinner, mandolin, bouzouki; Rob Ickes, Wabash steel guitar: Kenny Malone, percussion, drums, the beast; Lex Price, electric guitar; Darrell Scott on harmony vocals, banjo; Tim O'Brien, fiddle, harmony vocals; with Judith lead vocals, guitar and bouzouki. Judith's vocals reminds me very much of Alison Krauss's own soft vocal style.

13 tracks on Drama Queen cover a portrait of bluegrass and folk styles, all written by Judith Edelman. Drama Queen is a tapestry of interestingly and beautifully executed numbers with the only instrumental on the album being 'Preacher And Flo', with its heavy overtones of mandolin and fiddle. 'The Lies Are True' and the lovely tender ballad 'Come July' are heavily dominated by Darrell Scott's vibrant banjo.

Judith Edelman's Drama Queen offers an interesting and beautifully performed collection, well worth checking out. There are many excellent tracks to choose from if the wide range of the acoustic scale binds your musical interests.

Graham Lees, Dewesbury, W.Yorks Write to | Website

1st July 2001