Many may not realize it, but there is a real abundance of Bluegrass talent living in the Nashville area these days: producer Butch Baldassari--himself a super mandolinist--has put together this excellent disc that features 4 of the bands that get together formally or informally in the area. They're all good and there's a good amount of variety & neat material here. The CLUSTER PLUCKERS are the most contemporary of the 4, featuring the lovely voices of Margaret Archer & Kris Ballenger on THE RIGHT MELODY, GET IN LINE BROTHER,and a very nice WHEN THE ROSES BLOOM IN DIXIELAND. The NEW KENTUCKY COLONELS include Roland White, Gene Wooten, David Grier, and Richard Bailey, and do a fine job on I WANT TO BE LOVED, TILL THE END OF THE WORLD ROLLS ROUND, and YOUR OLD STANDBY. The SIDEMEN feature excellent singing by Terry Eldredge (along with Jimmy Campbell, Mike Bub & Steve Thomas) on the hard-edged Monroe style THINKING ABOUT YOU, I'LL TAKE THE BLAME, and the fine BE GOOD TO MY LITTLE BABY GIRL. Probably the nicest cut on the disc is AND THE WIND BLOWS THROUGH THE PINES, a fine song by Carol McComb sung beautifully by Keith Little, part of the BLUEGRASS IDLES (who also include Bub, Baldassari, Eldredge, & Stuart Duncan). They also do justice to POISON LIES and LONESOME ROAD TO TRAVEL. Fine music & variety here, recommended.
