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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. Return to CD Reviews. |
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| Karl Shiflett and Big Country Show | In Full Color |
| Review by Brenda Hough | |
| Songs: You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone Cold, Cold Love Misery Loves Company It’s Fall Again Jakebrakes Another Day The Day I Met An Angel Juke Joint Boogie Since You’ve Gone Away Down In the Willow Garden Now That You Have Me The Old South Standing in the Need of Prayer |
Rebel Records Personnel: |
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The cover of the CD puts a vintage RCA microphone up front and center with a tinted photo of the band in shirts and ties. The band recorded the CD live around the RCA 77 microphones with the soloists moving closer to the mic to take their breaks. The vintage sound has no dubbing and the band made every effort to get a 50-year-old sound. Each solo is clear and up front and the stage show must be a wonder to see as the players move up and away from the microphone for their solos. The band formed in 1993 with Texan Karl Shiflett on guitar, son Kris on bass, banjo player Jake Jenkins, fiddlers Kirk Brandenberger and Chuck Westerman, and mandolin player Lyle Meador. This is their second album for Rebel Records and clearly shows their reverence for the past styles of bluegrass but with several additional songs written by members of the group. The CD opens with a rousing version of “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone,” complete with a guest bass singer. The banjo notes fly fast and furious and show off the skills of Jake Jenkins. Jake is also featured in his instrumental, “Jakebrakes,” with plenty of Keith tuner changes, in his Carter style song, “Another Day,” and his “Cold, Cold, Love” which sounds like an old country standard. Mandolinist Lyle Meador wrote two instrumentals for the CD, a rousing “Juke Joint Boogie” in the rockabilly Monroe-style and “The Old South” a very haunting melody with twin fiddles. Lots of variety, different tempos and fine vocals by the whole band. Worth looking for in person and in the store. |
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