Northern California Bluegrass Society provides this CD review. You can find our most current reviews on our Message Board, where you can comment or query the author directly. Our monthly magazine, Bluegrass By the Bay also publishes them.

Fragment:

If You Break My Heart, Last Goodbye Today, Glogo & Gligo, Home in the Mountains, The Way That Love Was Meant To Be, I Think I’ll Leave, Angel Band, Black Mountain Rag, Too Far From the Mountains, Gonna Paint The Town, Some Morning Soon.

Velvet Music (made in Slovakia)

www.fragmentband.com

©2003

The Fragment band was founded in 1983 in Bratislava in the Slovak Republic, and won first prize in the 2004 European Bluegrass Band Championship. During their last tour to the United States, they have wowed fans all over the United States and at the IBMA Fan Fest festival. With many accolades coming their way, it won’t be long until the band becomes the most famous import from the Slovak Republic.

The musicians are first-rate and are prize winners on banjo and dobro in the Slovak republic. Henrich Novak has been with the group since it’s beginning and his smooth dobro work works seamlessly with the songs. Milan Marek sings the harmony vocals and adds majestic mandolin fills and licks on all the songs. Banjo player Richard Cifersky has a sparkling style with a bounce and drive that perfectly fronts the band’s sound. With guitarist Tomas Jurena, Richard and Milan punch out a high-powered “ Black Mountain Rag” that any band would be proud of. Jana Dolakova is the heart and soul of this band. Her bass playing anchors the rhythm and her voice (which many liken to Alison Kraus) has the magical combination of wistfulness and conviction that carry meaning to any song she sings. Her rendition of Stephen Mougin’s “The Way That Love Was Meant To Be,” and Becky Buller’s “If You Break My Heart” are flawless. The band’s vocal harmonies blend beautifully on the traditional “Angel Band” and “Gonna Paint The Town” and demonstrate that they can play the “ancient tones” as well as more modern bluegrass offerings. Excellent sound and well worth seeking out on their upcoming tour of the United States.

Additions or comments: fiddler@best.com