Contemporary Bluegrass Music

Quite a show it must have been any day these two played together.

With such depth of feeling, varied mood & mode, synchronicity and exquisite musicianship, this is music that should be heard more often in our lives, as medicine for better living.

So much can be expressed by one awakened to the power of music; so that two such persons can often convey more than can a huge orchestra.

Although winds & strings predominate, any fan of the art of music should appreciate such a gift as this.

Most enjoyable!

This is music for the soul. Both artists are playing from a pure heart-felt source. Some reviews burn Bensusan for not taking more chances, but melodic variation is not less in value than reckless improvisation. Malherbe blends sensibilities of Bop, Mid-East, Far East, & Indian Raga and remains one of the greatest unknown wind instrumentalists active today. It's a shame that CD's such as "Fluvius" & "Fetish" by this artist are not available on Amazon or in most music stores. Look for them. "Fluvius" is a masterful blend of traditional cultural sounds used in a new & creative context!

I was in the audience, and believe me the show was absolutely outstanding and lasted over 3 hours. This CD captures some of the highlights of that magic night, with many numbers from Bensusan'Spice album, an underated world music attempt. Malherbe is also wonderful with his cool jazz impros.

This recording brings together one of the top acoustic guitarist with a first class woodwinds player. The orchestration is minimalistic but the atmosphere is always changing as Didier Malherbe goes from the flute to the sax, the bass clarinet or the bamboo flute. The compositions are all originals in pure Bensusan's style, with a lot of oriental influences. Everything contributes to a very intimate mood... but that's also what I would reproach to this recording : some spice is missing, maybe just the intensity of a live appearance. It's a very pleasant CD but you never get caught by the music.

I saw Oakhurst as the opening act for Gaelic Storm last night. Since I'm not a big country music fan and didn't know they were playing I didn't know what to expect. What a great surprise they were. Their stage presence was great and music even better. I purchased their 3 CDs and met a couple of band members in the lobby - both very nice people. This CD has a lot to enjoy, for hardcore and novice bluegrass fans (like myself). Track 3 - Arkansas River - is a great example of their sound and talents. There are so many great songs, but Arkansas River, Brigade and River & Sticks definitely are my favorites. I would highly recommend this CD and Jump in the Get Down - you will not be disappointed.

You will just want to get up and "shake your a** for rain" when you hear this album. So much fun.

The title track, Great High Mountain, is worth the album by itself. But you also get a bunch of other Stanley classics including I've always been a rambler,Clinch Mountain Backstep,and Sharecropper's Son.

The harmonies are tight and the musicianship is what you expect from Dr. Ralph.

A fine best-of set, looking back at Dr. Ralph's decades-long run on the Rebel label, spanning 1971-1996. There's one previously unreleased track, "Wild Geese Cry Again," and thirteen other tracks of equal calibre. It's classic, vintage high lonesome-style bluegrass, with Stanley's uncompromised, hardcore traditionalist sound coming through loud and clear on every track. Nice stuff! Definitely worth checking out if you don't already have a bunch of the old original albums.

Playing Time - 37:33 -- Bluegrass music doesn't get much more lonesome than Ralph Stanley's. G. B. Grayson's "I've Always Been a Rambler" is a good choice of song to open this album and set the stage for a collection of classic bluegrass music at its finest. "Great High Mountain" is a compilation of Ralph Stanley favorites recorded between 1971-1996. "Wild Geese Cry Again" (recorded in 1996) is the only previously unreleased number, with all the others appearing on various Ralph Stanley albums on the Rebel Records label. Four tracks are pulled from the album, "Old Home Place" (Rebel-1562). Besides Stanley's own mournful vocals, other vocalists featured include Jack Cooke, Keith Whitley, Danny Marshall, Charlie Sizemore, Roy Lee Centers, Ricky Lee, and Chester "Pop" Marshall. The choice of material is arranged with a diverse array of vocal solos, duos, trios and quartets. A favorite instrumental, "Clinch Mountain Backstep," breaks up the overall set at track #7. After Ralph frails his banjo on "I've Got a Mule to Ride," the album closes with a spiritual quartet, "Amazing Grace," and reflective duet, "Home in the Mountains."

Stanley's music has always placed primary importance on the singing, and the 2004 Virginian of the Year stresses that "the instruments are there to bolster up the singing." "Great High Mountain" clearly illustrates how lyrics, music and feeling in mountain music work together to get it as lonesome as you can get it. On the surface, old-time traditional sounds may appear simplistic. In reality, you've got to feel the old-time way to play it correctly. Stanley once said , "I really think that bluegrass if it's sung right and done right and the proper feeling put to it is the hardest music in the world to play." That is what this album epitomizes. "Great High Mountain" embodies an old-time mountain bluegrass sound that reaps a bountiful harvest. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

THIS IS A WONDERFUL CD. CASE WAS BUSTED, BUT DID NOT AFFECT THE CD AT ALL. QUICK SHIPMENT.

I have wanted to add another Stewart CD to my shelves ever since John died four months ago. However, I am not enthralled with "Lonesome Picker." I do like "The Road Shines Bright" and "Daydream Believer" but the other tunes just don't grab me. I think his "California Bloodlines" and "Willard" and "Gold" releases are all superior to this one. As a fan since the moment he joined the Kingston Trio back in 1961, I am pained to note that John did have, as a solo artist, some indulgent tracks that just come off as pretentious. His "pretty good" songs far outnumber his failures, however, and the occasional brilliant lyric makes up for a lot of mediocre moments in his catalogue.

Sadly we lost John in Jan. 2008, he will be missed, and yet his music, like this cd, will last forever.

"The Lonesome Picker Rides Again" showcases John Stewart at his best. Taken as a whole, it is his most thematic album and comes close to rivaling "California Bloodlines" as his best. "Lonesome Picker" powerfully and superbly conveys the freedom, openness, melancholy, wistfulness and faded glory of the west; even "Daydream Beliver," so strongly associated with the Monkees, evokes the western spirit.

The production values of "Lonesome Picker" are outstanding. Other albums have stronger individual songs, but "Lonesome Picker" deserves to be heard for the first time in full, uninterrupted, and from beginning to end. It is a masterpiece from an American original who is missed deeply and dearly.

When Dave Guard left the Kingston Trio some 40+ years ago,an unknown singer-songwriter named John Stewart took his place.It didn't take long for diehard KT fans to realize John's gifts.Then in the late 60's John began performing at clubs in the Los Angeles area,like The Ice House,The Troubador and others.He penned such hits as California Bloodlines,Daydream Believer,and much later his biggest radio hit,Gold with Stevie Nicks. Lonesome Picker Rides Again had the great rockin' song,Wolves in the Kitchen.Great lyrics & beat.Many other songs on the album became cult favorites too,but Wolves remains one of my faves some 45 years later! If you know JS and his music,you know of what I speak,if you don't,buy this CD and Cannons In The Rain or the Phoenix Concert CD to get started on a great journey!

I bought this album back it 1971 and loved every song. Wild Horse Road and Wild Horses are my all time favorite John Stewart songs. If you haven't heard these two songs, buy this cd, you won't be sorry. I'm so glad the the Lonesome Picker Rides Again has been released on cd. Now I can listen to it again without all the LP popping sounds. Some wonderful music you don't here everyday on the radio everyday.

Charlie Sizemore has created a CD that offers listening pleasure time and time again. It's solid bluegrass with a country flavor. I love it because it has the drive of traditional bluegrass, which Charlie does so expertly, and because it includes some great mellow, introspective material. Charlie's vocals express a rare sensitivity, and he has the ability to sing anything. In my opinion, he's one of the top vocalists in bluegrass or country music today. The bluegrass band that Charlie assembled for this project and the instrumental work matches the quality of the vocals and the song selections. This CD is one that I come back to regularly. Highly recommended!!

WE heard Soldiers Prayer that this group sings and wanted the cd. I'm glad because there are other songs to enjoy on this cd.

This is one of my favorite albums I have ever listened to. It is one of those that actually gets better every single time you play it. The disappointing reviews given by other reviewers simply revolve around the basis of the album not being "traditional bluegrass"- that is not all bad in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I like traditional bluegrass- but let's be honest here: traditional bluegrass never really took firm root by today's standards because all of the songs sounded the same and you grow tired of, or at the very least yearn for something more, listening to the same timing and monotone keyed harmonies. If you understand what I mean, buy this album (or even if you don't understand it buy it) and you will learn why this band is setting the standard for the modern bluegrass revival.

This band has precision, polish, professionalism, excellent timing, vocal harmonies and fire that are unequaled in the music industry today. I repeat- try this album and reward yourself. I will even go as far to say that whenever I listen to this band the clouds part and it actually makes life wonderful no matter what the gloomy situation may be. Very lofty accolades I know, but it happens everytime I play it.

I have taken this to work and shared it with my co-workers and one of them told me that he has since cleaned out his entire CD storage area in his vehicle because this is the only CD he wants to listen to anymore!!!!

Buy this CD and if you don't like it I also guarantee their will always be someone that will want to buy it from you- you can't go wrong. This is one of those deals that is what you might call a "no-brainer".

Spread the word about this great band so that others may have the privilege of enjoying them as well. Have you seen the movie "Pay It Forward"? Share this album and it will make people feel good without it costing you a cent. ENJOY!!

I saw these guys live in Telluride this summer (2005), and they were amazing. So I bought the CD, and it is vastly different from what I heard. In my opinion, the songs on this CD are closer to country than real bluegrass. I gave the CD to a friend who also loved their Telluride set, and he just gave it back to me without even listening to the whole thing. Don't bother with this one if you are looking for bluegrass!

This band just keeps getting better and better! On this, their latest effort, they broaden the scope of their music with songs about topics in the headlines every day as well as songs true to their mountain roots.Also the addition of Clay Jones adds yet another dimension to the already diverse sound qualities that make up Mountain Heart. The vocals are always first rate, but somehow they seem even tighter and more heartfelt this time around. If you like great bluegrass music without any pre-conceived titles or boundaries then you'll love this CD. It includes traditional as well as contemporary styles of bluegrass while still capturing the Mountain Heart passion and "sound" throughout. A must have for any bluegrass fan or just a fan of great music. Pick this one up!

Bought this after listening to 30 second clips and took a chance. I can't stop playing it. I can't even name a favorite though "Another Day", "Life She's Chosen", "With a Memory Like Mine" and "Soldier's Prayer" are tops on the list. The music is so well put together and the vocal blend is so smooth that I wonder how come I haven't heard of them before, come on people, buy it, listen to it and spread the word. This group needs to play around this country and share their vision. We can all benefit from that. I'd give it more stars if they would let me.

I would love to review this cd. But, I didn't get it and I can't seem to get anyone to hear me. Can't something be done. The would be sender doesn't answer my e-mail. Rossico is his name. HELP!

Midnight Boulevard is Dancing Fantasys debut album. Released in 1990 it became a suprise hit on the jazz radio. I remember very well when I enjoyed listening to the title track back in it's day over a decade ago. That song is now a classic in my opinion. Cry Nature was another one I remember enjoying many years ago. Cry Nature, like Midnight Boulevard, is a classic in my opinion. I especially love the Andean flute that has become very popular in New Age music today and I also love the metallic beats.

These two songs are my absolute favorites off Midnight Boulevard.

I eventually got this CD and discovered other gems like the eerie Big River Small Boat, the awesome Mystery Voice with the ambient New Age pop feel and the voice effects,it's awesome guitar sway. The slightly ominous Dark Water is the other one.

The album does stumbles though in some areas. Voodoo Jammin while musically it's not bad but the voice effects are very grating and it drags the song down substantially.

The last three are dance remixes. One is a dance club mix of the title track. The dance beat works fine with dance mix the title track but the remixes of Voodoo Jammin are almost unlistenable. Like the original version the music itself is good and in fact is actually improved on the remix with the new keyboards but the frantic voice once again gets in the way of the song.

However instead of Voodoo Jammin being bad it's actually quite good in all of it's versions. The version on Moonlight Reflections is better though.

Midnight Boulevard is a very good album to have in any jazz lovers collection. Dancing Fantasy rank far above the elevator jazz of today. :)

I only heard the one song on Bluegrass Junction but purchased the CD anyway for one song. And I absolutely LUV the whole album. Every song is great. Vocals and music are triple ++++++. One of the best new bluegrass albums I've heard. A must have.

"Old Photograph" is a well produced, well-written, and superbly performed piece of music. It successfully blends blues/gospel/new-country and bluegrass into an exciting and fresh accessible work. Randy Kohrs is a transplanted Iowa native that learned each essential country instrument, then honed his singer-songwriter, engineering, and producing skills.

Rural Rhythm is a smaller independent label that is intent to preserving the authentic sounds of country without the overproduction and slickness that usually accompanies neo-country music. The single: `Who's Going With Me' (track 7) is currently in rotation on the cable GAC & CMT stations. He's by no means a flash in the pan. He's performed with Hank Ketchum, Tom T. Hall, and Dolly Parton. I personally like the genuineness to his delivery- these songs are merely performed: they are slices of life and sang with both dignity and talent.

Young and well intentioned, Kohrs will become a staple in the country-bluegrass scenes for many years to come, and I wish him well.

Jeff Feezle of Macafeez

This is one of my favorite CD's. It barely leaves my CD player. I don't skip any songs. Every song is great.

Randy Kohrs appeared on my radar when a request-to-add by him arrived on my Myspace page. I have a host of musical interests, and I grew up liking bluegrass, but it had rather been put on the back burner in the past few years. Randy changed all that.

The first few bars of "Rockwell's Gold" reaches right out and grabs you. I was captivated from the very start and I must say, I drive down the road with it going as loud as I can stand it. The story is intriguing - was this a family legend, as it sounds? - about a cagey guy with a fortune who successfully fights off attempts by opportunists trying to wrest it away from him and who hides it so well it has never been found.

Another song-story, "Lena Mae", about his grandma, always brings me to tears, after numerous listens. "Who's Goin With Me" seems to have overtones of Bruce Hornsby and is about being led to the Lord by attraction to a pretty girl, the preacher's daughter. "Can You Give Me A Drink" is a rocking Gospel tune that brought me - not a very religious person - to full-throated song.

So much of this album is straight from music I heard as a child, so old-fashioned and yet so vibrantly new. Randy possesses a wonderful voice for bluegrass and is assisted by a great and accomplished backup band. "White Ring", for example, sounds like the sort of song that would have been a staple at the Grand Ole Opry in about 1940. This is another out-the-car-window-singing song...I find myself reaching to harmonize every time.

My personal favourite is "She Ain't A-Comin' Back" - a tune so full of angst and loss that it's closer to a moan than a song, with great lyrics and spooky tuning.

Even the quiet songs on this album are fully engaging, as Randy knows innately the proper cadence and intonation to present. He takes you along on this ride into real bluegrass so that you don't want the trip to end.

Playing Time - 46:39 -- Well-known Nashville musician Randy Kohrs' fifth solo album project since 2001 also marks his debut as one of the "new tradition" on the Rural Rhythm label. It's a noble nod to one of the masters of the acoustic music scene, and "Old Photograph" is a brilliant testimonial to Kohrs' artistic craftsmanship. Randy's work continues to showcase his singularly impressive talents as producer, songwriter, instrumentalist, vocalist, and engineer. If there were an award for "Best All-Around Musician," Randy would get my vote!

Randy's participation as a session musician on over 500 albums has emphasized his expert virtuosity. He's also toured with the likes of
Hank Williams III, Tom T. Hall, Holly Dunn, Hal Ketchum, Hank Thompson, Continental Divide, John Cowan Band, and Dolly Parton. His talent helped him find comfortable niches with country, bluegrass and even some folk acts. And his presentation on "Old Photograph" demonstrates his continuing affinity for many genres. While the Iowa native who relocated to Tennessee in 1994 can play all the bluegrass instruments if he wants to, Kohrs' international fame is primarily due to his fine resophonic guitar work. For the other exceptional instrumental work on "Old Photograph" he enlists support from buds like Scott Vestal (banjo), Tim Crouch (fiddle), Jim Hurst (guitar), Jesse Cobb (mandolin), Jay Weaver (bass), and many others. In 2006, Randy formed his own band, "The Lites." Three cuts early in this set (Rockwell's Gold, Lena Mae, Two Boys From Kentucky) are most representative of his band's sound with the inclusion, to varying degree, of his young bandmates Scott Haas (banjo), Andrew Crawford (guitar), Ashley Brown (fiddle), and Aaron Ramsey (mandolin, bass).

Whether singing country, bluegrass or gospel, Randy gives us a distinctive, brawny delivery throughout his considerable range. For a softer edge, he's more lyrical than vigorous with "Don't Let Your Wounded Heart Come Between Us" (sung as a duet with Rhonda Vincent), "White Ring" (straight-ahead acoustic country), and "Shallow Grave" (sung and played solo to close the album). There are some interesting guests who make minor appearances in the mix. Melinda Doolittle, an American Idol contestant, sings high harmony on "Can You Give Me A Drink." A member of MuzikMafia, Shannon Lawson co-penned "Who's Goin' With Me" with Del Gray, and she sings tenor on that song. Chris Wood's percussion appears on three tracks. Many other guests like Clay Hess, Carl Jackson, Stephen Mougin, Darrin Vincent, and Don Rigsby stopped by Randy's Slackkey Studios to provide a vocal or instrumental track or two.

I've already gone on record as saying that the consummate Randy Kohrs is a deserving member of the contemporary bluegrass elite. His exciting stylistic presentation is full of both tang and twang. His songs have thoughtful substance and gripping delivery. Whether racing or reflective, Kohrs' music on "Old Photograph" will stand as another triumphant milestone and superlative effort for one of the most happening musicians in Nashville. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)