Reviewed by Joe Ross

Blue Highway performed its first gig on New Year's Eve in 1994 with its original lineup that includes the same consummate musicians that comprise the band today: Tim Stafford (guitar), Wayne Taylor (bass), Shawn Lane (mandolin, fiddle, guitar), Jason Burleson (banjo, guitar, mandolin), and Rob Ickes (Dobro, lap steel). Tim, Wayne and Shawn provide the vocals. Their early years found them associated with the reputable Rebel record label. In 1996, Blue Highway won an IBMA award for “Emerging Artist of the Year.” In 1996 and 2006, they were recognized with IBMA “Album of the Year” awards. In 1997 and 2004, they won IBMA awards for “Gospel Recording of the Year.” What a treat to hear a band with such a stable and solid lineup so full of talent! The internationally-renown quintet has now been associated with Rounder Records for over a decade.

Friends,

The incessant mantra drones on in our digital domain, we've programmed a routine to automate it: For 20 minutes everyday it  intones, why is efolkMusic here, and where the heck do we fit into both the current and soon-to-come post-Facebook world? (What, you say, I just got on!!!!! :^) Here's the news, late adoptors: Facebook has most assuredly peaked and is beginning the inexorable descent as "Facebook fatigue" spreads-- a fascinating experiment that began as a social tool and morphed into the 2nd hugest data mining operation in the world, a super-power tool of commerce. You heard it here first. (and while we are at it, Google is way too big for their britches, they may be the next Yahoo.....wait, they already are and will be again???!!??)

Wow, what a great sound, and I take back everything bad I ever said about Mozart- here the overture from Le Nozze di Figaro:

Reviewed by Joe Ross....

Dale Ann Bradley is a defining bluegrass voice of our time. After reviewing Dale Ann Bradley’s third solo album project “Catch Tomorrow” back in 2007, I felt she was perfectly poised to break through and win IBMA’s Female Vocalist of the Year Award, an honor she’d been nominated for in 2006. Sure enough, Dale Ann subsequently won the award for three years running, in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Dale Ann’s 2011 release “Somewhere South of Crazy” documents the artist’s musical maturity, and it is also acknowledges the strength of her 26-year vocal collaboration with Steve Gulley, a fine guitarist and singer in his own right who also contributed to writing “Restoring the Love.” Others singing some harmony vocals on this CD include Pam Tillis (Somewhere South of Crazy), Kim Fox (Round and Round, Summer Breeze, Next to Nothing), and Sierra Hull (Come Home Good Boy). Hull’s nimble-fingered mandolin playing is always a treat to hear. Other noteworthy instrumental support comes from Stuart Duncan, Mike Bub, Andy Hall, Matt Combs, David Long, Mike Summer and the album’s astute producer Alison Brown.

Ludwig van Beethoven understood the value of raising the taste of the public; present-day artists might want to consider using this as a basis for requests from patrons, etc., or say you want a discount on your child's voice lessons. Below is an excerpt from his 1806 petition to the Vienna Imperial Court Theater, a request to retain him as in in-house opera composer, at 2,400 florins annually:

The undersigned may flatter himself that so far during the period of his stay in Vienna he has won a certain amount of favor and appreciation... both at home and abroad.

Nevertheless, he has had to contend with all sorts of difficulties, and as yet has not been fortunate enough to establish himself here in a position compatible to his desire to live entirely for art...

Since on the whole the aim which he has ever pursued in his career has been much less to earn his daily bread than to raise the taste of the public and to let his genius soar to greater heights and even to perfection, the inevitable result has been that the undersigned has sacrifices to the Muse both materialprofit and his own advantage. - Ludwig van Beethoven

His petition was rejected (OK, maybe the third person thing  was a bit much), but luckily some upstanding royals stepped up to the plate and he didn't have to take a day job. Times have changed, huh?

Independent folk-rock lives, breathes, and is making good music -- exhibit A,  David Bethany, with a great new album, True Love. David is a "seasoned" Sullivans Island, SC artist who's done a fair amount of thinking and songwriting just off the continent's edge, from an island perspective. The result is a thoughtful, mature commentary on love and life, twelve new songs that get very personal; the voice is honest, the words are true. He has an attitude, for sure, but it's a good attitude. 

David's "previous life" was in rock & roll (Killer Whales), and he's as comfortable  fronting an electric band with a horn line as he is with an acoustic guitar. He covers the stylistic bases in this collection, a tasty and melodical musical salad with ample dressing.   Excellent players and production by David and Jay Miley, and the horn arrangements and backup vocals are very hip. As Leicester Bangs says, True Love  "will undoubtedly be a massive hit in some as yet undiscovered parallel universe, where such things as genuine soul and tender, heartfelt songwriting are coveted."  We concur...

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Here is a lovely waltz from Colorado's Paul Russell.Paul Russell plays what he calls "Rocky Mountain Americana", a music style infused with elements of folk, newgrass, old country, tomfoolery, delta blues and pirates. The lyrics explore themes of love, beauty, mystery, and meaning....a mature, refined songwriter whose attention to detail pays off.--The Marquee - Front Range, CO

Listen: / Download You and I (right-click or option-click to download...)

Paul Russell Artist Page