CD Reviews-August 1999

Many dyed-in-the-wool bluegrass enthusiasts live and die never knowing that musicianship can be of the level heard on this CD. Pretty strong words, I know, but listening to the first cut, Sweet Georgia Brown, you might not believe your ears. It’s common for reviewers to indulge in hyperbole, but Trust Me On This: It just doesn’t get any better. The single biggest mystery here might be why these guys aren’t acknowledged within the industry to the degree they deserve. Perhaps that’s a question for a more politically oriented forum, so lets talk about the music and the ones playing it.

Bluegrass Etc. is John Moore, Dennis Caplinger, Curtis Jones and Wally Barnick. Collectively they form a musical dreadnought characterized by incredible instrumental power, precision and inventiveness, smooth vocal harmonies, and innovative arrangements. Whether in the studio or in a live performance they deliver the same excitement and virtuosity.

John Moore is known as one of the great mandolinists and guitarists in bluegrass today. His free, liquid, and extraordinarily clean technique is one of the signature sounds of Bluegrass Etc. As spokesman/leader he entertains his audience with a natural humor that fills the space between songs with nearly as much enjoyment as the music.

Dennis Caplinger can hardly be compared to most other banjoists in all fairness. He’s taken the instrument to levels comparable to what Bela Fleck has, but in altogether different directions. Without the confinements of being locked into any single style, he plays with Zen-like abandon, with musical ideas seemingly born of the moment. And it all works. Dennis’ banjo playing tends to unfairly overshadow his abilities as a fiddle player but he’s a true force to be reckoned with in this field too.

Curtis Jones is a fairly recent addition to the band and has the chops to fit right in. His powerful, breakneck-fast and intricate guitar style is also heard on the Nashville Network’s two staple fishing shows hosted by Roland Martin and Orlando Wilson. He also wrote one of the most memorable cuts of the CD, the instrumental Amelia In Flight , a minor-key fantasy that is nearly exhausting to listen to.

Bassist and singer Wally Barnick performs several of the lead vocals, doing an especially fine job on Sarah Hogan and Evangelina. He’s also currently active in The Cache Valley Drifters and has been a core member of that group for years.

Home Is Where The Heart Is features one other talent not previously mentioned. Songwriter John Lowell wrote three of the songs including the title cut. The other two, Sarah Hogan and Northern Plains both made the hair on my arms stand up.

If you’re familiar with Bluegrass Etc. then you don’t need my recommendation to run out and buy their music. If you’re not, then remember what I said earlier – It just doesn’t get any better.

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Jenny Lester: "Friends Like You"

By: Bob Binstein

This CD is no longer available

If your checking out the latest Bluegrass selections at your favorite record shop,I’m afraid you would pass this gem by without a second glance. That would be your loss. The only thing this CD suffers from is bad artwork. The jacket is so dark you tend to ignore it.

That would be a big mistake. This album is filled with several original gems as well as some beautifully delivered traditional standards. She starts out with a great tune, that she wrote "One Way Track". This by far is not only an original tune it’s also the best number on the album. Her other original numbers are, "Friends Like You", "The River, Mother Nature and You" and "Send Down an Angel".

Among the old standards on this album is "I’m Waiting to Hear You Call Me Darling" and "Somebody Loves You Darling". I would have liked these tunes back to back. Country & Western, as well as Bluegrass performers have done both of these numbers. Jenny’s renditions fell somewhere between Country and Bluegrass. The music says Bluegrass, but she’s not quite there. I found this true on several other numbers as well. To Jenny’s credit every number on the album was well delivered in an enjoyable style. There are great musicians on this album as well. My lack of familiarity with their names made their music and Jenny’s singing even more enjoyable.

Coming out of Canada, her singing seemed to lack a little of the Appalachian, high lonesome sound one comes to expect on a Bluegrass album, but her voice provides an easy to listen to sound backed up by some superb musicians and you’ll soon find yourself singing along. Overall "Friends Like You." made me feel like I was opening an unexpected gift.

Normally I prefer hard driving Bluegrass and I tend to play a CD that I like continually until everyone else is driven from the house.

This was one CD everybody I played it for wanted more.

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Tim O'Brien: "The Crossing"

Alula Records ALU-1014

By: Tim O'Brien (This is a different Tim O'Brien)

Click on CD cover to purchase this CD...

It has been an interesting journey for the fans of Tim O'Brien who have followed his career since his years with Hot Rize. Most recently that journey has taken a few twists and turns. On the heels of his release earlier this year of Songs From The Mountain, in which he mines his Appalachian upbringing, comes his latest offering, The Crossing, which delves into O'Brien's own ancestry while focusing on the Irish immigrant experience in America. He presents sixteen songs from both sides of the Atlantic, including eight originals written for this project.

He has surrounded himself with some old and new friends to help provide the musical setting. The new friends are mostly stalwarts of Irish music, including members of the Irish band Altan, wind player Seamus Egan, and singer/songwriter Paul Brady. Throughout it all though, there is no doubt who is the leader of this band. While the group of musicians supporting him on this effort represent a veritable Who's Who of Irish and acoustic music, there are still the unmistakable vocals, instrumental prowess, and songwriting of Tim O'Brien.

In order of appearance, my personal favorites begin with the title track, an instrumental featuring Tim's fine fiddling and Ronan Browne playing uillean pipes. Wagoner's Lad is a ballad with a familiar melody that features a strong duet with Kathy Mattea. Down in the Willow Garden features a particularly soulful lead vocal by Paul Brady which O'Brien complements by weaving in an equally soulful high harmony. Lost Little Children is an original co-written with Robin and Linda Williams. With its plaintive melody, this song fits nicely with O'Brien's voice.

The less than upbeat subject matter and musical style make for somewhat melancholy listening. Despite that, The Crossing can be enjoyed on many levels: for those interested in exploring their own Irish heritage, for those engaged in solitary activities such as driving or working, and for those fans willing to follow this lad on his latest musical journey.

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