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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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| James Reams | Walter Hensley: Barons of Bluegrass |
| Review by Brenda Hough | |
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Songs: Lady Liberty Who's Going Downtown Lonesome Old Home Crossing Jordan Greenville Trestle High Lost and Found, Can't Win Can't Place Can't Show Brush Arbor Goodbye and So Long To You Diesel Smoke Dangerous Curves Upper Elk Creek Walking In Old-Time Religion |
Copper Creek Records CCCD-0214 |
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Walter Hensley's career started in 1959 when he was part of Alan Lomax's Folksong '59 concert at Carnegie Hall. As part of Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys, Walter was called the "Banjo Baron of Baltimore," and his banjo playing style influenced many other players at the time including Del McCoury who started out as a banjo player. James Reams met Walter at a festival in 1999 and was so impressed that he decided to record an album with Walter. Joining Walter and James are Mark Farrell on fiddle and mandolin and Carl Hayano on bass and vocals. The 13 songs are an excellent collection of traditional sounding bluegrass and James Reams has taken care to find some gems from early groups such as Ed Hamilton and Bluegrass, The Wonderbeans, The Sullivan Family and Wade Mainer. The band sounds like they've been together for a long time, but the group met only a few times before they recorded the project in one very busy weekend. The fine vocal harmonies and instrumental blending provide a perfect backdrop to showcase Walter Hensley's still powerful banjo playing. The punch and melodic tone of Walter's playing are brought out in his instrumentals "Lady Liberty" and "Upper Elk Creek." The traditional song, "Who's Going Downtown" has fine harmonies with James, Mark and Carl, but the throbbing banjo propels the song into high gear. James Reams has been called one of the most soulful bluegrass singers and his versions of "Brush Arbor" and "Crossing Jordan" show his heartfelt vocals. "Diesel Smoke" and "Can't Win, Can't Place" are light-hearted romps and good fun. This album is a real treat for fans of traditional bluegrass and excellent banjo playing. |
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