Kentucky For Me
Pinecastle, 2023
8/10
The legendary Dale Ann Bradley returns with a listen that surrounds her home state, where collaborations with Sam Bush, Danny Paisley, Larry Cordle, The Po’ Ramblin Boys, JP Pennington (of Exile), John Conlee, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Dave Adkins and John Cowan are present and appreciated.
“The Sun Is Going To Shine” opens the listen with JP Pennington’s warm voice complementing Bradley’s gorgeous pipes alongside the soft and heartfelt strings from Michael Cleveland’s fiddle, and “Kentucky Gold” follows with Sam Bush’s expressive singing and Tony Wray’s flowing banjo making for a very harmonic landscape.
Halfway through, “Appalachian Blue” recruits John Cowan for the intimate delivery of poetic singing and stirring guitar from Jim Hurst and Ethan Burkhardt’s bass, while “I’m Just An Old Chuck Of Coal” is more playful and welcomes Matt Leadbetter’s dobro and John Conlee’s deep singing.
Close to the end, “Poor Man’s Pride” makes great use of Aaron Biblehauser’s soulful backing vocals and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys for the melodic album highlight, and “Stop Dragging My Heart Around” exits with Dave Atkins and Kim Fox’s sublime harmony vocals amid the mandolin, guitar and bass that suits Bradley’s eloquent delivery.
Yet another first rate body of work from the 6 time IBMA female vocalist of the year, Bradley is in great company for this timeless bluegrass listen.
Travels well with: Daryl Mosley- A Life Well Lived; Lindley Creek- Whispers In The Wind