|
 A leisurely approach to
bluegrass is the way that Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys tap the heart
and soul of the music. Charles Whitstein provides the tenors for the brother
duets on this first release for the band since the passing of Jim McReynolds in
December, 2002. After opening with Alton Delmore's andante "There's More Pretty
Girls Than One," the band covers a variety of material from Dan Seals, Rose
Autry, Bob Wills, Jimmie Davis, Harold Hensley, Autry Inman, Pee Wee King, Ira
Louvin, and John Prine (who even makes a cameo appearance on the reworked album
closer, "Paradise").
Three original compositions penned by Jesse include She's Coming Home Tonight,
The Anniversary Song, and America on Bended Knees. He demonstrates an ability to
present many musical moods such as contemporary sentimentality,
traditionally-based nostalgia and patriotic crooning. I missed hearing some of
that hot mandolin crosspicking that the four decade member of the Grand Ole Opry
is known for.
At track six, the CD finally peps it up a bit with a moderately-paced romp
through Dan Seals' "Showboat Gambler" before the album takes a turn back to more
unhurried and deliberate tunes. That emphasis of this album may actually move it
closer to acoustic country than bluegrass. In fact, many of the songs come from
pioneers of country music, some of whom have been honored with induction into
the Country Music Hall of Fame. Frank "Pee Wee" King, for example, was inducted
in 1974. Jesse's solo interpretation of his ballad, "My Main Trial is yet to
Come," is haunting. McReynolds and Whitstein recreate another brother duo's
classic country sound with "New Partner Waltz," from some other Hall of Fame
inductees, The Louvin Brothers.
The spin accompanying this album assures us that the traditional "Jim and Jesse
sound" is still alive and well, and that this is "one of the best bluegrass
releases to date." Jesse searched through a lot of songs to find something
that would fit his style of singing and be a little bit different. It's a
tastefully rendered set of acoustic country, but it sadly misses the mark if it
were meant to also give us some sparky bluegrass. Jesse's mandolobro, Weldon
Myrick's dobro, and Bobby Hick's fiddle seem to play a much more central role
than say Daniel Grindstaff's or Charlie Cushman's five-string banjos. This is
not exactly a flawed concept, but I was hoping for a little more of the bright,
breezy, bouncy bluegrass that would remind me of the classic "Jim and Jesse"
sound I love. I'm sure that Jesse and the band could've infused the music with a
little more steam here and there if they had wanted to. (Joe Ross)
Release
4/13/04
JESSE McREYNOLDS and the VIRGINIA BOYS - New Horizons
Pinecastle Records PRC-1135
PO BOX 456, Orlando, FL. 32802
www.pinecastle.com
Playing Time - 43:08
Songs: 1. There's More Pretty Girls Than One, 2. I Won't Be Blue Anymore, 3.
Take Me Back Into Your Heart, 4. In The Pines, 5. Faded Love. 6. Showboat
Gambler, 7. You'll Find Her Name Written There, 8. She's Coming Home
Tonight, 9. The Anniversary Song, 10. She's Looking Good, 10. America On
Bended Knee, 12. My Main Trial is Yet to Come, 13. New Partner Waltz, 14.
Paradise |
