Kissel, Balsam Range release new discs
"The Compass Project" isa four-part album showcasing various themes and Kissel's abilities as a musician and songwriter. The first part, "South Album," was "Classic Brett," which featured contemporary tracks. "East Album" focused on his acoustic. "West Album" brought in the southern twang and classic country sound. Kissel has won 22 Canadian Country Music Associat9on awards, three Junos (the Canadian Grammy) and 15 top 10 radio hits in Canada.
Bluegrass mainstays Balsam Range bring something a little different to the table with "Kinetic Tone" on Mountain Home. After 15 years the band has seen a line-up change with mandolin ace Alan Bibey joining the band, which also includes Buddy Melton (fiddle, lead and tenor vocals); Dr. Marc Pruett (banjo); Tim Surrett (bass, dobro, baritone and lead vocals) and Caleb Smith (guitar, lead and baritone vocals).
More news for Balsam Range
- 05/02/23: Nicholson plans first post-Balsam Range disc
- 11/07/22: Nicholson leaves Balsam Range for solo career
- 08/12/21: Balsam Range shows its' "Moxie and Mettle"
- 12/06/19: Balsam Range is out with "The Gospel Collection"
- 01/04/19: Balsam Range releases "Aeonic"
- 09/27/18: Balsam Range wins big IBMA award
- 07/26/17: Balsam Range, Earls of Leicester score 8 IBMA nominations
- 08/12/15: Balsam Range, The Earls top IBMA nominations
CD reviews for Balsam Range
Formed in 2007, Balsam Range already earned many international Bluegrass Music Association Awards across six albums. On their seventh, the acoustic quintet features four-part harmonies on most tunes, while the prevailing instruments are fiddle, mandolin, banjo, upright bass and guitar. Balsam Range is Buddy Melton (fiddle, vocals), Darren Nicholson (mandolin, vocals), Dr. Marc Pruett (banjo), Tim Surrett (bass, Dobro, Weissenborn, vocals) and Caleb Smith (guitar, vocals).
The curious ...
Since forming a little more than a decade ago, North Carolina-based Balsam Range (Buddy Melton, fiddle; Darren Nicholson, mandolin; Tim Surrett, bass; Marc Pruett, banjo; and Caleb Smith, guitar) have established themselves over the course of six critically applauded albums (not counting a Christmas album, though that was well done too) as one of the more dynamic and accomplished bands on the modern bluegrass scene, with a basket full of IBMA awards to back that claim up. ...
You can have your silver bells for Christmas time in the city, but if you're looking to experience a mountain Christmas, look no further than Balsam Range. "It's Christmas Time" opens with the moody "Christmas Lullaby," and ends on an instrumental note, with a bluegrass-y "Jingle Bells."
This six-song EP is heavy on familiar holiday songs, including "The First Noel," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and "Hark! The Harold Angeles Sing. ...
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