Cherryholmes II Black and White (Skaggs Family, 2007)

The Cherryholmes, a family bluegrass band who rose to the top of the bluegrass heap as IBMA Entertainers of the Year after their first Skaggs release, have followed up with another successful project.

For followers of traditional bluegrass, the collection has a little of everything - breakdowns and fiddle tunes, twin fiddles and percussive mandolin, soulful singing and tight family harmonies.

Cia Cherryholmes, one of the most emotive young female voices in bluegrass, is at her best on her original "You Don't Know What Love Is" or the murder/prison modal dark "Black and White." The entire multi-talented family can sing, play and also write - young Molly's "Tell Me Why" was especially good.

Most of their work is straight bluegrass, and they can blister the up-tempo numbers with the best of 'em. In particular, "The Nine Yards" is played with a drive and intensity reminiscent of Mountain Heart. However, they are not limited to that genre, and also dabble in other textures at times, ranging from Scottish influenced fiddling to bouncing swing in "Darkness on the Delta."

There is a reason Skaggs signed this family to his label, and his judgment regarding emerging talent again proves sound.