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Artist: Joe Ross
Label: Zephyr Records
Length: 12 Tracks/46:09
As you read the notes that accompany this recording, you will quickly get the sense that Joe Ross is a multitalented performer. He serves as the producer of the disc, wrote eleven of the tracks and co-wrote the other song. Besides handling the lead vocals, he plays the guitar, mandolin, bass and hammered dulcimer on various songs. With such a high level of involvement, the question becomes does Ross have enough ability in all these areas to create a quality recording ?
In the vocal arena, Ross has a voice that falls in the lower midrange area. It is a full voice that rings out power. But it has a limited range, leaving Ross unable to hit the upper range notes. This point is driven home when Bluegrass veteran James King handles the lead singing on "My Home in Old Virginia." King easily creates the high, lonesome sound that defines Bluegrass music. Ross adds a fine harmony vocal on the track. When Ross is supported with harmony vocals from Randy Kohrs, the combination is an effective blend that adds depth to the performance that is missing when Ross is on his own.
Ross proves that he is a more than capable musician, primarily on mandolin and guitar. Two highlights of the disc are his instrumental tracks. "Hotqua Nights" is a tribute to the Hot Club of Paris (Django Reinhardt/Stepane Grappelli) and the Umpqua Valley in Oregon. The lively track opens with a walking bass line from Jason Heald before Ross establishes the mood on the dulcimer. The entire band gets an opportunity to shine on "Goldfield," a quick-paced breakdown that features an outstanding contributions from Al Brinkerhoff on the resophonic guitar and Kevin Prater on mandolin. Additional support comes from the likes of award winning Ron Stewart on fiddle and guitar plus Scott Vestal's banjo on three tracks. Bryan Bowers adds his autoharp to one cut. Producer Ross certainly assembled a topnotch cast to bring his music to life.
His songwriting explores some themes common to Bluegrass music. Three tunes deal with death - "Blood Red Roses" as a tribute to the ultimate price paid by members of our armed forces - "Pitch Black by the Ton" looks at the final minutes of the miners killed in the Sago Mine disaster - and "Old Dan and Little Ann" is the musical version of a Wilson Rawl's novel about a pair of hunting dogs. Ross tells each story in the simplest of terms, failing to capture the weight of emotion that is found in the work of the best storytellers.
The title track generates some of the excitement of a Bluegrass festival. Ross wrote "Many a Blue Moon" as an update on the Bill Monroe songs on the same topic. The lyrics don't always fit together with the same easy flow of the Monroe classics but the band provides solid backing. Several tracks sport a positive message but the lyrics to "Good Deeds" and "Philosophy" come across as a disjointed litany of cliches about living right, delivered in a lighthearted manner more suitable for children.
This disc is a mixed bag. Ross has written some solid music and gathered a strong group of musicians to perform his work. His delivers the songs in a strong, clear voice that lacks some range but never fails to display enthusiasm for the music. Ross fails to consistently provide lyrics that reached out and engage the listener in some magical way. This is a nice recording but not an essential listen.
Mark Thompson