Bluegrass 99 (Pinecastle, 1999)
Various Artists
Reviewed by Jonathan Colcord
The recording leads off with an almost too fast, but impressive version of "Monroe's Hornpipe" written by the late Bill Monroe. Following up with a great little guitar solo and some hot mandolin playing is Earl Scruggs "Lonesome Road Blues. One rarity is the nicely flat-picked "Sugar Foot Rag," written by Graham Townsend. Among the originals are Vestal's "Chesterfield," a jazzy-banjo driven tune with nice dobro. Vestal also penned a hot melodic, funky banjo groove with "Other Side Of The Tracks" on which the whole band struts their stuff.
Stylistically, the recording covers a lot of ground incorporating Irish melodies into such tunes as "Little Beggar Man," and "Little Darlin' Pal Of Mine." Several true classics are offered as well with perhaps the nicest instrumental version of "Amazing Grace" ever heard with beautifully soulful fiddle playing, and Scruggs' "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" to close the show. Perhaps a bit more on the traditional side than last years offering, this great grouping of songs is sure to please.
©Country Standard Time • Jeffrey B. Remz, editor & publisher • countrystandardtime@gmail.com
About • Copyright • Newsletter • Our sister publication Standard Time