Jay Armsworthy & Eastern Tradition, Making Memories (Eastern Tradition 1003)

The third release from this Maryland-based traditional bluegrass band features their new line-up: Armsworthy with Tom Gray, Mike Phipps and Marc Bolen.  Fourteen cuts include a mix of obscure bluegrass and classic country material, a new song from J.C. Poff, and the first recorded lead vocal from Hall of Honor member Tom Gray on “I’m a Stranger in My Home,” penned by Neal Burris, Pee Wee King and Redd Stewart.   

Joe Bonson & Coffee Run, Love Train (Arch Tech Records)

Traditional edge country music with lead bluegrass instruments added to the mix is featured in this new release from Arch Tech Records.  Material is drawn from Merle Haggard, Larry Cordle, Kim Fox, Dallas Frazier, Buck Owens and more. 

The Boohers, Grandma’s Songs (Lonesome Day Records 008)

On their debut for Lonesome Day this family bluegrass band based in Johnson City, Tenn. present songs written by Dixie Hall, Lorraine Jordan, Becky Buller, Ron Block, A.P. Carter and “Brink” Brinkman, plus three originals. 

Phil Greer, Phil Greer Sings 11 ½ Silly Songs (Phil Greer)

The first solo release from Missouri school teacher/banjo player/humorist Phil Greer includes a mix of funny songs including “Very Unfortunate Man,” “BACON and EGGS” (to the tune of Tammy Wynette’s “DIVORCE” about the demise of the family pet—a pig), “Pine Tree,”  “I’m My Own Grandpa” and more.  Phil, along with his brother Stan, is responsible for most of the corny jokes told on Branson, Mo. stages today, dating back to their days as The Delirious Brothers at Silver Dollar City in the 1970s.  Phil is still a popular emcee and entertainer throughout the Ozarks.  

Clay Jones, Mountain Tradition (Rural Rhythm)

The set list for Mountain Heart’s lead guitarist Clay Jones includes “BF05,” a new instrumental written by Ron Stewart, along with several tunes that pay tribute to Clay’s traditional bluegrass heroes: “Big Mon,” “Gonna Settle Down,” “Clinch Mountain Backstep” and more.  In liner notes Craig Havighurst comments, “It may not be heavy metal, but it darn sure is some heavy wood!”  Clay’s bandmates from Mountain Heart guest, along with Tina Trianosky (clawhammer) and Ron Stewart (5-string) on banjos. 

Kreni, Leaving Home (Kreni)

Kreni, a bluegrass band from the Czech Republic, presents 13 originals with a contemporary edged, traditional bluegrass feel.  Their skills indicate a musical maturity beyond their years—judging from the young faces pictured on the CD cover.  Band members include Ondra Kozak on guitar, fiddle and lead vocals, Michal Wawrzyczek on banjo, Petr Novak on mandolin and guitar, and Lukas Rytir on acoustic bass and electric bass.  Lyrics are in English.

Lonesome River Band, Head on into Heartache (Mountain Home MH10332)

Their first album for Mountain Home delivers the trademark hard-driving, high energy bluegrass sound this award-winning band is known for.  Material is drawn from Billy Smith & Mel Besher, Jerry Salley & Chris Stapleton, Robert Evans, Irl Hees & Lowell Appling, Paul Overstreet, Harley Allen, Lester Flatt, Randall Hylton and Harry C. Sisk, Jr. 

The Lonesome Sisters, The Lonesome Sisters (Tin Halo Music 0401)

Inspired by musical mentors like Ginny Hawker & Tracy Schwarz, Sarah Hawker and Debra Clifford—The Lonesome Sisters—present an old time set of vocal duets backed by guitar, mandolin and the occasional clawhammer banjo. In addition to a couple of originals, songs come from the Stanley Brothers, Blind Willie Johnson, Hugh Moffatt and the public domain.

Mac Martin & the Dixie Travelers, Verango (Copper Creek Records 0235)

The latest from Pittsburgh bluegrass pioneer Mac Martin, his first in several years, celebrates the band’s 50th anniversary.  In addition to mandolinist Mac Martin, recognized as one of the first generation artists who helped to develop and popularize bluegrass music, the line-up features Mike Carson on fiddle (since 1954), Norm Azinger on bass (a 25 year veteran), Bob Martin—Mac’s son on guitar and Keith Little on banjo.  Included: “New Curly Headed Baby,” “Blue Skies in Your Eyes,” “Sunny Side of the Mountain,” “Backtrackin’ II” and more.     

Tim May, Find My Way Back (Flatpicking Guitar Music 117)

On his first solo project singer/songwriter/guitarist Tim May takes some time off from touring with Patty Loveless and studio projects to offer a collection of original and traditional songs.  Tim shows off his instrumental chops on “Bill Cheatham” by playing guitar, banjo, Dobro, mandolin and bass.  Tim is backed up by his former bandmates from Crucial Smith (Kyle Wood, Chris Joslin, Gretchen Priest-May, Dave Holladay), Mark Holladay, All Groll, Fred Carpenter, Tony Wray, David Harvey and Todd Cook.

Jesse McReynolds & Charles Whitstein, a Tribute to Brother Duets (Pinecastle 1145)

The new album from Bluegrass Hall of  Honor member Jesse McReynolds and his new singing partner, Charles Whitstein is a tribute to the brothers they each lost recently—Jim McReynolds and Robert Whitstein, along with honoring favorite brother duets from bluegrass and country music.  Musical nods are included to The Bailes Brothers, The Louvin Brothers, The Delmore Brothers, The Stanley Brothers, The Blue Sky Boys, The Morris Brothers, The York Brothers, The Wilburn Brothers and Bill & Charlie Monroe.  Charles Wolfe contributes liner notes.

David Parmley & Continental Divide, Long Time Coming (CMH 8861)

In liner notes lead vocalist/guitarist David Parmley describes his band’s latest album as “a reunion of sorts, since each of us performed together as members of The Bluegrass Cardinals and earlier incarnations of Continental Divide.”  It’s also a return to CMH Records—the label the Cardinals recorded for in past years.  In addition to originals from band members David Parmley and Randy Graham, material is culled from Robert Gately, Wes Probst, Randall Hylton, Don Parmley and more. 

Frank Poindexter & the Rice Brothers, It’s The Music (Dex Records 001)

Frank Poindexter’s skills on the Dobro are spotlighted on this new album, where he is backed up by Rickie Simpkins, Greg Luck, Mark Johnson and his nephews Tony, Larry and Ronnie Rice.  Seven of thirteen cuts are originals, on a set list that includes “Old Spinning Wheel,” “Hound Dog Rock,” “Morning Glory,” “Crazy Creek,” “Just As I Am,” “Last Thing on My Mind” and more. 

John Reischman & the Jaybirds, The Road West (Corvus 012)

On the third album from Canadian mandolin stylist John Reischman and the Jaybirds, a combination of hard core, driving bluegrass, haunting ballads, fiddle tunes and time honored classics are presented alongside seven band originals.  Included: “Hop  High My Lu Lu Gal,” “Travelin’ the Road West,” “In the Fall,” “Home Sweet Home” (an original with a familiar title), and more.

Mike Scott, Blue Moon of Kentucky, featuring Mike Scott: A Tribute to Bill Monroe (Maple Street Music 1300-2)

On an instrumental tribute to Bill Monroe, banjo player Mike Scott—who currently tours with Ronnie Reno & the Reno Tradition as well as selected dates with Jesse McReynolds, is backed by Aubrey Haynie, Bryan Sutton, Mike Compton and Ben Isaacs.  Included: “Footprints in the Snow,” “Uncle Pen,” “Kentucky Waltz,” “Crying Holy,” “Jerusalem Ridge,” “Molly & Tenbrooks” and more.

Tim Scott, It All Comes Around in the End (Tim Scott Records)

Vocalist Tim Scott presents an all original collection of up-tempo gospel music set to bluegrass instrumentation.  Tim sings lead, backed up by Josh Froiland, Mike & Gene Waring, Jesse & Susan Durham and Larry Beam.

Kenny & Amanda Smith, Always Never Enough (Rebel Records 1811A)

On their second album for Rebel, Kenny Smith says the focus is on songs that lend themselves to interesting vocal harmony possibilities.  Material comes from Tim Stafford, Webb Pierce, Hugh Prestwood, Mike Ramsey, Penny Jones, Becky Buller and Alan Bartram, among others.  In addition to husband and wife team Kenny and Amanda and banjo player Steve Huber, the album introduces new band members Alan Bartram on bass and Jason Robertson on mandolin.

Ralph Smith, Home Sweet Home (Main Tripp Records)

The crosspicking guitar chops of North Carolina-based Ralph Smith, a former band member of Ralph Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Boys and Dave Evans’ Bluegrass Strangers, are brought to center stage on his new album.  Favorites include “Home Sweet Home,” “Wildwood Flower,” “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” “Unclouded Day,” “Snow Deer,” “Red Wing,” “Rosewood Casket” and more.

Ralph Stanley, Shine On (Rebel Records 1810)

Hall of Honor member Ralph Stanley returns to the old-fashioned sacred style of music he grew up with on his latest recording for Rebel Records—his first new album since his self-titled release on the DMZ/Columbia label in 2002.  Produced by Stanley’s son, “II,” the joyous, hopeful, even danceable gospel collection includes songs from Bill Crawford, Pee Wee King, Art Brumley and Dolly Parton, among others.

Jussi Syren & the Groundbreakers, Sea of Changes (Bluelight Records 33112-2)

The third album from Finland’s Jussi Syren & the Groundbreakers on the Bluelight label includes eight originals from mandolinist/bandleader Syren and banjo player Tauri Oksala, along with songs from Charlie Daniels, Carl Perkins, Jesse Colin Young and Roger Ferris.  A video of Jussi’s “Life of a Steel Driving Man” is included on the enhanced CD.  Look for the Groundbreaker on tour in Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands and the United States. 

Tommy Webb, Now That You Are Gone (Tommy Webb)

Hailing from Floyd County in eastern Kentucky, Tommy Webb sings lead on a dozen straight-ahead bluegrass songs, backed by Chris Goble on banjo, Harold Nixon on bass and Ron Stewart on everything else (mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo).  Material includes “Headin’ West,” “God Gave You to Me,” “Hard Row to Hoe,” “Katy-did,” “Lonesome Old Town” and more.  

Adrienne Young & Little Sadie, The Art of Virtue (Addiebelle Music)

A checklist for keeping “The Thirteen Virtues,” borrowed from the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, is included with the second recording from singer/songwriter Adrienne Young.  In addition to originals from Adrienne, the 15 tracks include old-time fiddle tunes re-imaged for a new day, the gospel standard “Farther Along” and the Grateful Dead’s anthem of renewal, “Brokedown Palace.”     

RECORD LABELS:

Addiebelle Music: www.adrienneyoung.com

Arch Tech Records: www.joebonson.com

Bluelight Records: Mutant Music Production, Box 153, 00171 Helsinki, Finland, bluelight.records@co.inet.fi

CMH: PO Box 39439, Los Angeles, CA 90039, www.cmhrecords.com

Copper Creek Records: PO Box 3161, Roanoke, VA 24015, www.coppercreekrecords.com

Corvus Records: 2030 Nootka Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5M-3L9, www.johnreischman.com

Dex Records: 1504 Miller St., Monroe, NC 28110

Eastern Tradition: PO Box 741, California, MD 20619, www.geocities.com/easterntradition/

Flatpicking Guitar Records: www.fgmrecords.com

Phil Greer: http://members.tripod.com/~mrgreer/index.html, email: greer@mo-net.com

Kreni: Ondrej Kozak, Porubska 969, 735 41 Petrvald u Karvine, Czech Republic, http://sweb.cz/bgkreni

Lonesome Day Records: 143 Deaton Road, Booneville, KY 41314, www.lonesomeday.com

Main Tripp Records Inc: 1250 South Carbonton Road, Sanford, NC 27330, (910) 947-6677

Maple Street Music: 3016 Cages Bend Road, Gallatin, TN 37066, www.maplestreetmusic.com

Mountain Home Records: Crossroads Music, Arden, NC www.crossroadsmusic.com

Pinecastle Records: PO Box 456, Orlando, FL  32802, www.pinecastle.com

Rebel Records: PO Box 7405, Charlottesville, VA 22906, www.rebelrecords.com

Rural Rhythm: www.ruralrhythm.com

Tim Scott Records: www.timscott.net

Tin Halo Music: www.tinhalomusic.com

Tommy Webb: (606) 285-3470