DISClosure
CD Reviews Of A National Scale
Gordon Stone Band
red room
by Benjy Eisen
 While
Bela Fleck has taken banjo music to new audiences, his peer Gordon Stone
has taken banjo music to new heights. Much like his first three releases,
Red Room is largely composed of instrumental barnyard stomps and
progressive breakgrass from somewhere far north of Kentucky, despite solid
bluegrass roots. Stone also puts in impressive performances on the pedal
steel, bringing to both his instruments an energy and a vitality usually
not associated with either. And his music makes you want to dance —
another characteristic uncommon in mountain music. But this isn’t mountain
music … this is music that has come down from the mountain and entered the
smoke-filled jazz clubs and murky jam halls of the urban underground.
Drummer Russ Lawton, who doubles as the drummer in Trey Anastasio’s band,
contributes vocals to a few original tunes and a cover of “Runaway Jim.”
Lawton’s songs are an interesting dichotomy of pop-sensitive melodies set
to a Rocky Top backdrop. Sandwiched in the middle of the disc, they
provide a pleasant change-up while not disrupting the continuity or flow
of the collection.
Throughout the disc, there’s a remarkable interplay between all three
musicians (in addition to Stone and Lawton, Rudy Dauth handles bass
duties), and it’s actually this interplay that’s the strongest selling
point to Red Room...well, that and the undeniable talent of all
three of these “musician’s musicians.” Along with everything else they are
(and aren’t), the Gordon Stone Band are jazz cats dressed in bluegrass
rags.
This is fun, engaging music that is as mysterious as it is sophisticated.
Red Room is great, the Gordon Stone Band is great, and, by the way
— who is Bela Fleck? (Home Grown Music Network)
United We Stand
Various Artists
by Lisa Hummel
 A
number of patriotic compilation benefit CDs came to a head in response to
the September 11 tragedy, among them a fine effort from the pairing of the
American Red Cross and Capitol Records. Entitled United We Stand,
the disc has no relation to the RFK Stadium concert spearheaded by Michael
Jackson on October 21. Rather, it features 14 impressive tracks from an
eclectic assortment of artists, including John Lennon, The O’Jays, and
Glen Campbell.
All but one of the disc’s tracks had been previously recorded. The sole
new effort comes from the pen of Bruce Springsteen’s former Steel Mill
bandmate, Robbin Thompson. “Wouldn’t Wanna Be You” was written in response
to the day’s events and the aftermath and has been subsequently serviced
to Armed Forces Radio.
Slated for release on November 6, the CD is awash with patriotic and
inspirational selections. The disc ranges from those songs familiar in
recent weeks — Lennon’s “Imagine” and the recently revived Lee Greenwood
tune, “God Bless America” — to those traditional — Woody Guthrie’s “This
Land Is Your Land” and Al Green’s “Amazing Grace” — to the offbeat, but
fitting — The Beach Boys’ “4th of July” and a live recording of Joe
Cocker’s “With A Little Help From My Friends.” The disc concludes with an
excellent and quite somber rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” by jazz
great, saxophonist George Adams.
One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of the CD will be
donated to the American Red Cross’ disaster relief efforts. (Capitol
Records) |
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