This column, containing brief reviews of recent CD releases by Richard Thompson, is published in the current (Spring 2009) edition of British Bluegrass News. As it is a lengthy piece, we have broken it into two parts, with the firt installment having run last Sunday.

A series of rambles about CDs by bluegrassmercury, part 2…

A big bundle of CDs has landed on my desk in the recent past. They include those by Danny Paisley, the Infamous Stringdusters, Williams & Clark Expedition, Kenny & Amanda Smith Band, Daughters Of Bluegrass, High Windy, Gold Heart, Cherryholmes, Earl Scruggs, The Mashville Brigade, Crowe Brothers, Ralph Stanley II, Longview, Big Country Bluegrass.

The Daughters Of Bluegrass Bluegrass Bouquet (Blue Circle BCR 017) is an epic collection of some considerable magnitude, comprising 17 cuts and featuring over 50 ‚Äòdaughters.’ The first track, Proud To Be A Daughter of Bluegrass alone there are 20 ladies singing, 4 shouters and 6 pickers.

Those familiar with the Blue Circle label and the Good Home Grown Music group will recognise that this album is the product of Tom T Hall and our own Miss Dixie Hall. She’s a Boldmere, Birmingham girl! The duo penned all songs and most of the recording was done at the Hall’s home studio in Franklyn, Tennessee.

The quality of songs and singers is remarkably and consistently high, with many stand-out tracks (There Ought to Be) More to Love than This [sung by Lisa Ray]; I’m Gonna Love You Now [Frances Mooney]; Nobody Home [Lorraine Jordan]; the a cappella Go Up on the Mountain and Wait [with five-part harmonies]; I Made of a Flower Today and Scenes from an Old Country Graveyard, both with an old-time country feel; another with a gospel edge Take Me With You [Beth Lawrence]; Desmoranda [Valerie Smith]; Carolina State of Mind [Gina Britt]; and Everybody Got a Light [Beth Stevens]. In addition to the opening song, three others feature multiple lead vocalists. Overall, the ladies have produced an excellent album.

The latest album from Ralph Stanley II This One Is II (Lonesome Day Records 013) sees him striking out for a wider market than that which encapsulates the strict bluegrass fan. Stanley has a deeper voice than the late lamented Keith Whitley, but the similarities are very definitely there, just as they are with his uncle, Carter Stanley.

II, as he is known, has gathered together a bunch of top studio buddies; Tim Crouch (fiddle and guitar), Cody Kilby (guitar), Randy Kohrs (resophonic guitar), Harold Nixon (bass), Adam Steffey (mandolin) and Ron Stewart (banjo, utilised sparingly). Jim Lauderdale, Steve Gulley, Darrin Vincent, Marty Raybon and Dale Ann Bradley all provide some harmonic assistance.

Beginning with a Garth Brooks song, Cold Shoulder, II has included a Elton John song (Georgia) and one by Townes van Zandt (the beautifully melodious "Loretta") and another by Lyle Lovett (a driving bluegrass treatment of "L A County"). Also, in the ‚Äòcountry’ pigeon-hole are They Say I’ll Never Go Home, Honky Tonk Way and If This Old Guitar Could Talk. Train Songs is up-tempo offering from the pen of the ubiquitous Tom T Hall. Saving the very best for comment to the last there is the killer Moms Are the Reason Wild Flowers Grow and the equally heart-rendering Carter, the Fred Eaglesmith tribute to Carter Stanley. File under ‚ÄòGreat Music.’ (more…)

Cherryholmes has debuted a new music video, for the song Bleeding from their current Skaggs Family release, Don’t Believe. The video has the band in the bus, doing sound check and on stage for a show.

This one is an all-family production, filmed and edited by members of the Cherryholmes clan. Somehow I suspect that it was the younger contingent who actually did the work. I don’t see Jere sitting behind the computer editing video – though mom Sandy doesn’t show up very often on screen, suggesting that she may have been behind the camera.

Cherryholmes has created a YouTube channel so that you follow their videos online, both ones they may post, and videos from their label or from fans.

With Grammy weekend fast approaching, a  number of bluegrass artists are preparing to make the trip to LA, hoping to come away with a trophy.

To help fans follow them on their Grammy trip, the various members of Cherryholmes will be posting regular updates on their Twitter page. They are nominated in two categories (Best Bluegrass Album and Best Country Instrumental).

The full list of nominees for Bluegrass album are:

• Cherryholmes III: Don’t Believe – Cherryholmes
• Del McCoury Band ‚Äî Live At The 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – Del McCoury Band
• The Ultimate Collection / Live At The Ryman – Earl Scruggs With Family & Friends
• Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass: Tribute To 1946 And 1947 – Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
• Wheels – Dan Tyminski

The Grammy awards show will be telecast on Sunday (2/8) at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on CBS television. The bluegrass award will be announced, however, during a Pre-Telecast Ceremony from 4:00-7:45 p.m. (ET). This ceremony will not be telecast, but will be streamed live online at www.grammy.com.

Other grassers nominated for a Grammy include Jerry Douglas for Two Small Cars In Rome from his Glide CD, B?©la Fleck & The Flecktones for Sleighride on Jingle All The Way, both in the Best Country Instrumental category. Also nominated are The Steeldrivers for Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals category for Blue Side Of The Mountain from their self-titled debut.

The video for the remix of Cherryholmes‘ This Is My Son which we mentioned last week, is completed, and posted on YouTube.

The video is made up entirely from images of US service members sent in by family members and friends, set to the music of the remixed version of the song.
The remix involved adding some light percussion and keyboards to fit more with country radio programming.

The remixed single is available for download purchase in iTunes.