Alan Tompkins - No Part of Nothin'

It’s hard to believe that No Part Of Nothin' is the first CD by Alan Tompkins. His assured baritone anchors this mellow album of bluegrass classics and originals and gives it the feel of a recording by a much more seasoned artist. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he is joined here by a handful of experienced and recognizable musicians such as Sam Bush, Kenny and Amanda Smith, Ron Stewart, Mike Bub, and Brad Davis to highlight just a few. The net effect is a smooth and professional-sounding offering that bluegrass fans will find easy on the ear.

Review: Woody at 100: Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection

Like many bluegrass fans of a certain age, I came to it by way of folk music. Although steeped in Fifties rock and roll, I was caught up in the charms of The Kingston Trio and the idea that unamplified acoustic instruments could support songs that seemed instantly singable; mine was a generation that wanted to replicate what we heard, not just listen to it. (High school boys’ rooms had acoustics that did wonders for doo-wop harmonies.) The arrival of Bob Dylan led me (and others) to move beyond the slick pop of Peter, Paul and Mary et al. and to explore the sources of Dylan’s pre-electric work—and that led, inevitably, to his greatest influence, Woody Guthrie.

Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper: Fired Up

There's an energy and insistance to Michael Cleveland's music that sounds fresh yet vaguely familiar- I had to do a little digging into the bluegrass historical archives to figure it out. Before I get to that game of bluegrass band version of Six Degrees from Jimmy Martin (well, actually, in this case, one, but as I said, we'll get back to that in a bit), let's get this out of the way: I think Michael Cleveland is the Kenny Baker/ Byron Berline of his generation. That is, he is not just a talented fiddler, he is utterly expressive with the fiddle, as if there is no separation between his musical thoughts and his beautiful, accurate and soulful fiddle playing.

Review: Lonesome River Band - Chronology, Volume 3

When a band with the talents and musical pedigree of the Lonesome River Band decides to record an album of songs chosen in a poll of their fans, the appropriate response from most of us should probably be ‘thank you.’ This (their 15th) disc should more than satisfy listeners familiar with the band’s music as well as offering a perfect primer for anyone new to their particular brand of bluegrass.

As the final installment in a trilogy of CD’s, Chronology,Volume 3 rounds out their most recent musical offering with 10 tracks that have both helped to bolster their reputation as a leading modern bluegrass band and define their sound.