Studebaker - Sugar Hill SHCD 3869 CD
Review by Eric Kwiatkowski

Personnel: Kenny Smith (guitar vocals) Amanda Smith (vocals), Adam Steffey (mandolin) Barry Bales (Bass), Sammy Shelor (banjo) Randy Lucas (banjo) Daniel Carwile (fiddle), Ronnie Bowman (vocals), Don Rigsby (vocals).

Tracks: Studebaker / Me And My Farmall / Lay Me To Rest / Bill Cheatham / Lay This Broken Heart To Rest / Snow Shoes / Preaching By The Roadside / Red-Eyed Benny Hen / New Sunday School / Amanda's Reel / One-Horse Wagon / St.Anne's Reel

As the opening instrumental track Studebaker unfolds, the immediate impression is that guitarist Kenny has been heavily influenced by the playing of Tony Rice, but it quickly becomes obvious that Kenny has soaked up the work of other players and is also a great creative talent in his own right. Kenny’s version Tommy Jackson’s Snow Shoes brings to mind the work of guitar duo Eric Thompson and Alan Senauke; the ending to Preachin' by the Roadside recalls Dan Crary. On Bill Cheatham, Kenny's ideas breathe new fire into this old warhorse of a tune. The CD does not indicate which, if any, of the personnel play with Kenny on a regular basis. The overall musical blend is, however, seamless. The banjo styles of Sammy Shelor and Randy Lucas contrast in a pleasing manner which blends in well with the CD as a whole. Mandolinist Adam Steffey at times reminds me of Herschel Sizemore - Sam Bush is also there, but like Kenny, Adam has his own stylistic approach. For me, the track which is worth the proverbial cost of the CD alone is Amanda's Reel, named after Kenny’s wife. It's a beautiful tune, with intricate ideas from Daniel Carwile variously reminiscent of some British isles ad Texas-style fiddling. Adam Steffey’s playing on the opening notes of his mandolin solo let you know you're in for a treat as his version of the tune develops.

The songs on this CD are the sort that you listen to once or twice, and although attractive, they don't hit you straight away - then there they are - going around your head in a very enjoyable way days later. The singing has a lighter, "contemporary" feel to it rather than intensely traditional - Lay this Broken Heart to Rest is reminiscent of Nanci Griffith or perhaps even Fleetwood Mac, but the other four songs are firmly rooted in the Bluegrass idiom. A superb CD - buy it!

Eric Kwiatkowsky, Nottingham

CD Mini Reviews

Steve Huber - Pullin' Time

Strictly Country Records. This is an all-instrumental album that will be liked by every Bluegrass fan and of course especially by the banjo pickers. It's quite traditional, but excellent and never boring. Steve wrote many of the tunes on the album and my favourite is Five in the Morning. The album has some great musicians on it too: Tony Rice, Kenny Smith, Rob Ickes, Stuart Duncan, Randy Howard, Butch Baldassari, Missy Raines, Fred Travers and more. Highly recommended for every banjo picker !!!

Ralph Schut, Spruce Pine Bluegrass Band, Holland. (sprucepine@geocities.com).

Two notices by John Lawless

Jim Mills' Bound To Ride

Woof! And again I say... woof! I recently got a copy of Jim Mills' solo project, Bound To Ride (Sugar Hill 3883). This is a terrific album and one that is sure to thrill fans of hard driving Scruggsy banjo picking. Jim is not an innovator but more of a renovator. His playing is powerful, passionate and authentic without sounding overly derivative.

The cast includes Ricky Skaggs, Adam Steffey, Tim Stafford, Stuart Duncan, Don Rigsby, Barry Bales, Alan O'Bryant, Jerry Douglas. Fine performances down the line on some classics - Bound To Ride, Poor Ellen Smith (Don Rigsby sings it mighty purty!), Groundhog, How Great Thou Art, Bear Tracks, Rebecca - plus some great tunes not as well known - Don Stover's Rockwood Deer Chase and Ralph Stanley's Big Tilda.

Jim also puts together a nice tribute to Earl which he calls He Came From Carolina. This is a medley of several of Earl's greats like Sally Goodin, Sally Ann and Cumberland Gap.

Great stuff. I'm not sure what the official release date is but I suppose it will be in the stores soon. Don't miss this one folks.

John Lawless, Acutab, Roanoke, VA

Suzanne Thomas' (Dry Branch Fire Squad)
First Rounder Recording

This project features guest spots from the Lonesome River Band, IIIrd Tyme Out, the Seldom Scene, the Dry Branch Fire Squad, John Hartford, Laurie Lewis, Glen Duncan, Missy Raines, Jim Hurst and Bill Evans. Banjo work on the recording is done by Sammy Shelor, Steve Dilling, Ben Eldridge, Bill Evans and Suzanne Thomas. Highlights include a scorching remake of the oldConwy Twitty/Loretta Lynn tune Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man, featuring Ronnie Bowman and Suzanne Thomas on lead vocals, Sammy Shelor on electric guitar & banjo and Glen Duncan on fiddle.

The idea behind this one was Suzanne getting together to pick and sing with her favourite musicians. Not a bad cast of characters, that!

The album was produced by Bill Evans; I got a chance to hear some rough mixes back in the late summer 1997. Nice stuff.

John Lawless, Acutab, Roanoke, VA

Updated 23rd Jan 1999