Kentucky born Dale Ann Bradley is often found around the Nashville area playing with the bluegrass band Coon Creek. Dale Ann has been making a name for herself within bluegrass circles since 1992. Born and raised in the small East Kentucky town of Pineville, this mountain songbird first sang in church and school contests. By the time she was fourteen, Dale Ann had learned to play guitar and joined her high school band director and his wife to form a trio, performing in regional venues. They entered a music contest in Lexington, where Dale Ann first came upon the New Coon Creek Girls. After a failing marriage and having to bring up her son, Dale Ann moved to Nashville with a demo tape. She laughs "I didn't know anyone," but auditioned at the Renfro Valley Barn Dance, becoming a member in 1989. In 1992 Dale Ann took up the guitar and lead vocal position in the New Coon Creek Girls, and in 1997 Dale Ann and Vicki Simmons (founding member of Coon Creek Girls) formed a new band, Dale Ann Bradley and Coon Creek.

Photo: the band in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Oct 2002:
Dale Anne, Vicki Simmons, Tom Adams, Michael Cleveland, Michael McLain

With two highly successful recordings, East Kentucky Morning and Old Southern Porches, her new release, Cumberland River Dreams attracts musicians of the calibre of Alison Krauss - harmony vocals, Dan Tyminski - guitar & harmony vocals, Barry Bales - bass, Rob Ickes - dobro, Aubrey Haynie - fiddle are only a few of the many who contribute their remarkable talents to this album. Dale Ann's honeyed vocals are only surpassed by the quality of her well-crafted songwriting, culminating in an album of compelling listening.

Cumberland River Dreams soars high as it carries you away on a cloud of euphoria. Released on the Doobie Shea label, there are 12 tracks of very palatable fare. Dale Ann and Vicki Simmons wrote five of the tracks. Gordon Lightfoot's The Circle Is Small is given a passionate edge by Bradley's lilting vocals, eagerly highlighted by the sensational ringing banjo of Michael McLain as it works overtime. Dale Ann also offers Randy Scruggs/Johnny Cash's richly textured Passin' Thru' with a racing tempo.

The Bradley/Simmons compositions offer glimpses of brilliance, particularly with the opening I Wish It'd Been You and Beyond A Shadow Of a Doubt which offers an emotive song about Dale Ann's own mother's battle with cancer, bringing a lump to the throat. The story like lyrics of Planes, Trains And Automobiles sits comfortable as it drives along on it's musical journey to find a place to escape a broken heart. With a glint of early morning sparkle from the Kentucky and Tennessee hills, the title track from the pen of Bradley/Simmons is an autobiographical look at a Kentucky girl who dreams with abiding passion of making her way through life playing music.

We are bought all too soon to a conclusion with Barbara Geniece Spencer's gospel offering of Gonna Move On Out. With so many fine songs held here, Cumberland River Dreams lavishly makes its mark and engages the listener's attention, provoking you to hit the replay button to go another time around.

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

Updated 2 Dec 2002