"Bluegrass music is music shared with good company and this collection of 17 songs brings out the joy and fun of getting together with friends.

The band boasts a "variety of traditional, acoustic music styles which range from bluegrass, to western swing, gospel to old time fiddle music....we can tailor our music to fit the event." The variety is evident in the collection: Bob Wills tunes like "Old Fashioned Love" and "Faded Love", hard-driving instrumentals like "Salt Creek", Stanley Brothers gospel songs and contemporary songs from Gillian Welch and Marshal Wilborne. There's even two Blue Ridge songs: "Blue Ridge Cabin Home" and "Blue Ridge Mountain Girl".

The band consists of guitarist Bill Ward who adds many tasteful guitar licks and rhythms to the songs, fiddler Melvin Fong whose classical training brings a strong fiddle presence, bassists Jerry Hendrix and Sam Ferry, mandolin and banjo player Mike Brooks who adds strong solo instrumental licks on both instruments and fiddler Martha Evins. Martha's strong country voice is one of the strengths of the band and all the voices blend in harmony on the many gospel tunes on the CD.

One highlight for this reviewer was the hammered dulcimer added to the rendition of "Bury Me Beneath the Willow". It is not traditional, but great fun. There's a strong banjo lead in "In The Gravelyard" and lots of great woody sounding fiddle throughout the mix. Bill provides good steady rhythm guitar and adds the fine touch of well placed runs and fills.

This would be a good album to learn tunes for your own band or to share good acoustic music with family and friends. There's enough toe-tapping music and joyous singing to brighten anyone's day! "

Brenda Hough
For Northern California Bluegrass Society
(formerly Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society)