
Bluegrass
Unlimited Review of
One Mile East of Hazel Green - Aug 11' Issue
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RANDY
WALLER & THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN
ONE MILE EAST OF HAZEL GREEN
Lendel Records
LR5611
Since taking over his father Charlies illustrious band seven
or eight years ago, Randy Waller has faithfully carried on the adventurous
and, at times, even urbane eclecticism that has informed the Country
Gentlemen since the elder Waller co-founded the band in the late
1950s. Like his daddy, Randy has a robust, stately baritone that
lends itself ably to mainstream country and folk-tinged styles,
as well as bluegrass.
Not surprisingly, the group touches on quite a variety of styles
here. The title tune, for instance, is a deliciously dark, evocative,
southern gothic ghost ballad, complete with eerie sound effects.
Cherokee Rose is an historical story-song that graphically
revisits the dark, shameful epoch, the Trail Of Tears.
And, there are musical shades of Sergio Leones spaghetti Westerns
in Wallers colorful rendition of Charlie Daniels Caballo
Diablo. Jack See Nock, one of several stand-out
Waller originals, is a full-blown gypsy jazz romp, featuring hot
gypsy guitar and fiddle licks from DeWayne Brooks and Dave VanDeventer.
Waller also shines on a pair of heartfelt gospel originals, Ferry
My Soul and Oh Angel. (Lendel Records, 9188 James
Madison Hwy., Warrenton, VA 20186, www.lendelrecords.com.) - BA
(Bluegrass
Unlimited)
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