Art Stevenson and High Water

From Babcock, Wisconsin, Art Stevenson & High Water are a bluegrass quartet, together since 1993, featuring Art Stevenson (guitar, vocals), Stephanie Stevenson (bass, vocals), Dale Reichert (banjo, dobro-two cuts, vocals) and newest member Bruce King (mandolin, vocals). Special guest Gerald Evans adds fiddle on seven tracks. Art and Dale have considerable past experience picking in the Wisconsin River Bluegrass Boys. On this CD, they share the lead vocals, and their duet singing is one of the band's signature trademarks. Art has been honored by the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association as their "Favorite Male Bluegrass Vocalist" in 2000.

"Like a River" is the band's fourth album, and it offers an eclectic repertoire. The traditional end of the spectrum is covered with the hard-driving "Two Dollar Bill," as well as hymns "I Am Climbing Jacob's Ladder" and "In My Father's House." High Water's a capella quartet is commendable. Respect for the seminal purveyors of bluegrass is apparent in their oft-requested cover of Carter Stanley's "The Old Home," and Bill Monroe's "Texas Blue Bonnet." Folk and country feelings are predominant in Tom Russell's balladic "Alkali," Kate Wolf's uptempo "Like a River," and Tom T. Hall's humorous "Who's Gonna Feed Them Hogs."

Two originals penned by Art Stevenson are worthy of special mention. The album opens with "Daddy is a Railroad Man," a young boy's tale of his hardworking father. "Sawmill Town" is another hustling song about living and working in one of Wisconsin's pioneer towns along the river.

Art Stevenson & High Water play their music with a lot of infectious spirit and spine-tingling proficiency. Their approach to bluegrass emphasizes diversity, and they are equally comfortable with traditional sounds as they are with more progressive Americana music. They perform about a hundred dates a year, primarily within their region. Their dedication and solid sound has built them a considerable fan base, as well as earning them the Wisconsin Area Music Industry's Best Bluegrass Music Award. They've also placed among the top bands in the SPBGMA's International Bluegrass Band Championships in Nashville in 1997, 1998, and 2000. These bluegrassers from the Badger State are some pretty impressive talents with their good harmony, straightforward picking, and solid song selection. (Joe Ross)

ART STEVENSON & HIGH WATER - Like a River
Wold Tracks Music WT-105
PO Box 234, Babcock, WI. 54413-0234

WEB: www.highwatermusic.com
Playing Time - 42:29
Songs - Daddy Is A Railroad Man, Would You Rather Go, I Can See Clearly Now, Alkali, Like A River, I Am Climbing Jacob's Ladder, The Old Home, Who's Gonna Feed Them Hogs, Texas Blue Bonnet, Sawmill Town, Angeline, Two Dollar Bill, In My Father's House