By Pete Wraith

The Scruggs-style banjo picking of Pete Wernick will be familiar to most bluegrass fans. His work with Hot Rize has passed into bluegrass legend and his visits around the world as “Dr Banjo”, teaching the five string has brought his expertise to a new generation of pickers. On this project Pete and the Live Five produce a new approach to a few styles of American music he calls “flexigrass”. The Live Five mix bluegrass, Dixieland jazz and blues using clarinet, banjo, vibraphone, bass and drums. Nine of the thirteen tracks included here are written by Pete, the other being Daybreak in Dixie (Ralph Stanley), June Apple (Trad), Dear Old Dixie (Flatt and Scruggs) and Jobob Rag (Bob Wills and Tommy Duncan). Many tracks,like Playground Swing, have a traditional feel, while Dear Old Dixie could double as the theme tune for Cheers, ’til all cut loose halfway through giving it the full Flexigrass treatment.

D-Funk, Huckling the Berries and Fire Dance have a more contemporary feel. June Apple has it all - funk, trad, Celtic and improvised breaks with a jazz-swing feel.

It’s hard to categorise or describe the style of The Live Five, which could be a hindrance in their attempt to reach a wider audience other than their native Denver/Boulder region.

Opening track Sky Rider starts off as a mainstream bluegrass banjo tune with vibes and clarinet playing their version of bluegrass. Huckling the Berries is my favourite - the rhythm is insistent and the interplay between vibes, clarinet and banjo is what I think Live Five are all about.

To be truthful it took me a little while to get into this new style of instrumental music. At first I could only admire the musicianship: the light brush work of drummer Kris Ditson, the inventive bass work of blues man, Rich Moore, who lay the platform for George Weber’s vibes, Bill Pontarelli’s clarinet and Pete’s banjo. After the third listening and realising I had to turn the volume up a bit to get the full benefit I am now into it! Whereas other banjo players have produced material which takes the bluegrass 5 string into modern, often off the wall jazz, Wernick and the Live Five have a more accessible trad approach to their jazz work and ... “I tell you what!”, it works.

By the way, Sugar Hill Records, PO Box 55300 Durham, North Carolina NC27717-5300 will send you a free mail order catalog if you send them a post card.

Ken Tardley, Leedsdale, Tykeshire.Article by Pete Wernick

By Ian Reynolds
Tracks: Bootleg John / I’m Better Off Now That You’re Gone / This Weary Heart You Stole Away /Home in The Mountains / Loving You Too Well / Gonna Paint The Town / Medicine Spring / Is It Over Now / Sharecropper’s Son / Your Selfish Heart / The Only Way To Say Goodbye.

Personnel: Tim Austin, Barry Bales, Ronnie Bowman, John "Buckwheat" Green, Jim Haley, Aubrey Hanie, James King, Shawn Lane, Raymond Legere, David Parmley, Wyatt Rice, Don Rigsby, James Alan Shelton, Charlie Sizemore, Craig Smith, Scottie Parks, Keith Tew, Ernie Thacker, & Dan Tyminski. Not all players feature on all tracks.

This issues’ award for ‘Best Opening Track’. A blistering version of Bootleg John gets this mega album off the blocks. Check out some pyrotechnic picking by Wyatt Rice. It’s the best way imaginable to kick-off a ‘must have’ collection of songs. High lonesome vocals on I’m Better Off Now That You’re Gone keep up the quality, and one of my all time faves, This Weary Heart You Stole Away - I was sold by then, well and truly.

This is the ‘bluegrass harmony’ source album of the year. The singing is so spot on it makes you tingle (and wish there were a few more bods like Dave Pope to harmonise with on the local circuit)

You might argue that The Stanley Brothers had just as much impact - in terms of style and repertoire - as ‘Mr.Late Great’ himself. It all started in 1946 at radio station WNVA at Norton, Virginia, sparking off a non-stop 20 year circus of gigs and PA’s for the definitive duo.

Maybe that’s why, since Carter’s death in 1966, there have been more than a coupe of ‘tribute’ albums. This is the best one I’ve heard. Included are a set of songs from the 40’s and 50’s; a sample of Ralph’s solo career in the late 60’s and 70’s. To top it off, the pickers involved have come up with a couple of tunes in the Stanley tradition.

The album is the labour of love of Tim Austin. Besides being an ace sound engineer (which is demonstrated here), he’s well known for his work over the years with The Lonesome River Band. This is him going back to his roots. Apparently, his first ever live concert trip was to see Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys. He’s made his own significant contribution to the genre with this piece.

Here’s a great intro to the Stanley repertoire for those new to the scene who are eager to look for the roots of the music. The picking and singing are exemplary as you’d expect, and the recording quality should prompt more established fans to buy the songs again.

Hopefully it was on your Christmas List. If you bought it for your best mate then borrow it.

This CD was kindly loaned for review by, and is available from, Frets Old & New, 294, Longmoor Lane, Fazakerly, L’pool, L9-6DG. Tel: 0151-525-2781.

Ian Reynolds, Blackley, Manchester

Updated 23rd Jan 1999