Blue Haze
Pinecastle, 2020
8/10
Robert Haze aligns himself with The 8th Wonder Band on this adventurous outing, where they take some massive hits of the past and rebuild them with a bluegrass template that was clearly very fun to make, and just as enjoyable to hear.
“Help!” starts the listen with Hale putting a playful bluegrass spin on The Beatles tune with flowing string acrobatics, and “It’s All Over Now”, popularized by The Rolling Stones, recruits strong vocal harmonies amid precise finger pickin’.
Elsewhere, Jerry Jeff Walker’s “Mr. Bojangles” trims the pace back with soothing rural harmonies, while the traditional “House Of The Rising Sun”, which has been covered countless times, sees a sublime mountain spirit injected that you’re not likely to hear anywhere else.
Near the end, Clapton’s “The Shape You’re In” is a frisky and highly rhythmic display of bluegrass beauty, and “Riding The Storm Out” is a cautious and precise interpretation of the REO Speedwagon classic where strong chemistry between the players exists.
Hale handles guitar and vocals here, and his band includes Scott Vestal (banjo), Missy Raines (bass), Shawn Lane (fiddle) and Chris Davis (mandolin). Certainly a novelty album, let’s hope this isn’t the only covers album they plan on releasing, cause hearing these tunes in this manner brings us all a new appreciation of their timelessness.
Travels well with: Lindley Creek- Freedom, Love And The Open Road; Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road- Bill Monroe’s Ol’ Mandolin