CD Review

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.

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MacRae Brothers Old Country Church
Review by Brenda Hough  

Songs:

God's Golden Shore
Old Country Church
When I'm In The Lowest Valley
Rank Stranger
If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again
I Have Found The Way
Little Mountain Church
Dust on the Bible
Where The Soul of Man Never Dies
The Old Cross Road
Kneel at the Cross
I'm Going Back to the Mountains
Amazing Grace
Squirty Records Studios
www.macraebrothers.com

Jake Quesenberry and Matt Dudman may not be blood brothers, but their hearts and souls are truly joined in this fine collection of traditional brother-style gospel songs. Jake's lead vocals harken back to the old days and the old country places hidden in hollows and hills. His songs of home and church pull the listener to the times when the little mountain church was an important part of family life. Jake's guitar is the strong rhythm background for Matt's marvelous mandolin accents and tenor harmonies that are carefully crafted to match Jake's lead vocals. The two modern minstrels have captured the essence of the duet sound and happily for us are sharing it in frequent concerts in the South Bay Area. (They are part of the bluegrass music showcase at Sam's in San Jose) "Dust on the Bible" and "I've Found The Way" are two songs that are happy discoveries on the album. There are also some classic renditions of "Where The Soul of Man Never Dies," "Little Mountain Church" and "Rank Strangers." While the vocals are outstanding, the wonderful weaving dobro trills of Sandy Rothman, a local Bay Area musician and former Blue Grass Boy with Bill Monroe, makes this album a standout from other brother duet albums. (Sandy, please come out and play more!)

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