Kathy Kallick & Laurie Lewis "Together" (Rounder Records, 1991)
A nice, simple, traditionalist bluegrass lovefest, with plenty of bouncy melodies and some very fine harmonies by Kallick and Lewis, who were formerly bandmates in the well-beloved Bay Area band, the Good Ol' Persons. The best thing here is their voices, which compliment each other perfectly. Lewis typically sings a bit on the thin side, but she provides the ideal underpinning for Kallick's growly purr. The material is all pretty straightforward, with crisp, heartfelt acoustic picking. It gets a little shaky on the slower, sappier material, but there really isn't much of that style heard on here, and on the whole this is an excellent album, well worth checking out!

Kathy Kallick "Matters Of The Heart" (Sugar Hill Records, 1993)
More of a crossover album, with some, well, sorta dorky reggae rhythms, blues riffs, sappy folkgrass lovesongs and even a bit of rock'n'roll. A few songs on here worked for me, but mostly this is more aimed at progressive-minded old folkies, and not towards stringband traditionalists. As crossover efforts go, though, this is perfectly fine... Anything with Kallick's voice on it gets extra points from me!

Kathy Kallick "Use A Napkin (NOT Your Mom!)" (Sugar Hill Records, 1995)
A bouncy set of bluegrassy children's music, with a few old faves ("Did You See Jackie Robinson," "Liza Jane," etc.) and a bunch of new tunes from Kallick and her crew.

Kathy Kallick "Call Me A Taxi" (Sugar Hill Records, 1996)
Another solid, traditional-sounding album with a slew of nice originals written by Kallick, and a Bill Monroe & Carter Family song thrown in for good measure. Plain, unfussy backup by Todd Phillips, John Reischman, Stuart Duncan and Sally Van Meter make for a perfect little package of bluegrass bounce.

Kathy Kallick "Walkin' In My Shoes" (Live Oak Records, 1998)
A pretty low-key, self-produced indie album, that doesn't have the full oompf of her Sugar Hill and Rounder releases, but still plenty of Kallick's unique, down-to-earth charm. Plenty of original tunes and some well-chosen cover tunes.

Kathy Kallick "My Mother's Voice" (Copper Creek Records, 2001)

Kathy Kallick "Reason & Rhyme" (Copper Creek Records, 2004)

Kathy Kallick "A Warmer Kind Of Blue" (Copper Creek Records, 2005)

Kathy Kallick "Between The Hollow And The Highrise" (Live Oak Records, 2010)
(Produced by Kathy & Tom Size)
Another nice set of traditionally-oriented bluegrass from one of the SF Bay Area's finest singers. I've been a longtime fan of Kallick's voice, which sounds as sonorous and velvety as ever; her songwriting is also on display here, with more than half the tracks being Kallick originals, complimented by oldies from Josh Graves, the Stanley Brothers and the Louvin Brothers. (The band has some sweet gospel harmonies on the Louvin's "There's A Higher Power," one of the album highlights...) There are also a couple of nice new instrumentals, one composed by mandolin picker Tom Bekeny, the other by dobro/banjo man Greg Booth, which give the band a chance to stretch out. All in all, a lovely set of back-porch bluegrass made (in my case) by the folks down the street... If you're an old fan, this album will be sure to bring a smile.

Kathy Kallick "Time" (Live Oak Records, 2013)
A superlative, picture-perfect West Coast bluegrass album. I've always been a fan of Kallick's warm, pleasantly burred vocals, as well as her flawless sense of melody. When she sticks to a traditional sound -- as she does on this excellent album -- she's plain old solid gold for a true twang fan. Backing her are a crew of low-key locals, regular folks from the SF Bay Area all playing their hearts out with sweet, melodic performances that get it right on song after song. Fiddler Annie Staninec is a particular standout, as is dobroist/banjo player Greg Booth, but honestly, every note on this album is a shiny gem. Kallick is a gracious host, and shares the spotlight with her fellow musicians, giving the lead vocals on several songs over to bassist Dan Booth while generously doling out plenty of room for everyone's solos. There's a sense of warmth and camaraderie on here that's delightful, with an underlying humanity that's sometimes missing on the the slick 'grass albums of today. Among many fine tracks are several sweet and penetratingly soulful gospel songs, notably a high-harmony version of "Lord Protect My Soul" and a brush-arbor "Precious Memories," with a sincere spirituality that's echoed in the reflective yet more secular originals such as the propulsive album opener, "Time" and Kallick's "Fare Thee Well." Other highlights include a cover of Terry Fell's "Old Black Choo Choo" (best known from the '50s hit by Rose Maddox) and a trio of zippy instrumentals. This is one of the most listenable and most satisfying truegrass albums in recent memory... Highly recommended!

Bill Keith -- see artist discography

Jeannie Kendall "Jeannie Kendall" (Rounder Records, 2003)
Country singer Jeannie Kendall, the daughter in the father-daughter Top 40 act, the Kendalls, takes a bluegrass-ish turn in this mellow set of heart songs, recorded with the help of Alison Krauss and Union Station, along with several other high-power friends. The songs are all quite well-written and Kendall's Dolly Parton-ish voice has never sounded lovelier. However, the by-the-numbers pop-grass accompaniment quickly gets to be a real drag... Particularly vexing is Rob Ickes' overly stylized dobro playing -- it's become far too much of a trademark and a musical affectation, a never-changing sentimental tone, mere filler that fails to match the real emotion in Kendall's voice. I understand why people respond to Union Station's muzak-y sound, I'm just tired of hearing it myself. Oh... back to this album: it's pretty good, in a sappy kinda way. The duet with Alan Jackson ("Timeless And True Love") is really nice, as is her version of Hugh Moffatt's super-duper weeper, "Jack And Lucy." Kendalls fans will definitely want to check this out.

The Kentucky Colonels "New Sounds Of Bluegrass America" (Briar Records, 1963)

The Kentucky Colonels "Appalachian Swing!" (World Pacific Records, 1964)
This swell, all-instrumental album captures Southern California's up-and-coming Kentucky Colonels at their simplest and most direct, and was, incidentally, one of the albums that helped set the bar for bluegrass musicianship during the early years of the folk-era bluegrass revival. Brothers Clarence and Roland White were at the core of the band, while them other fellers -- Billy Ray, Bobby Sloane, Roger Bush and Leroy Mack -- were no slouches themselves. I'm afraid I have to be counted among the few who were ever really as completely blown away by Clarence White's guitar work as seems obligatory in bluegrass circles, but even I will admit that the economy and gracefulness of the band's work on this album is worth checking out. Slicker, faster, flashier, even more soulful pickers have shown up in this band's wake, but the Colonels showed them all how to get started.

The Kentucky Colonels "The Kentucky Colonels" (1973)

The Kentucky Colonels "Livin' In The Past: Legendary Live Recordings" (Rural Rhythm Records, 1975)
Live tracks from 1961-65...

The Kentucky Colonels "1965: Live In L.A. -- Scotty Stoneman With The Kentucky Colonels" (1975)

The Kentucky Colonels "Long Journey Home" (Vanguard Records, 1991)
The much-vaunted Colonels, playing live at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival. Plenty of great old tunes and much earnest re-creation of the classic "high lonesome" sound. To be honest, I've often found their reputation outweighs their recorded legacy... Although I understand the band's importance to their generation of pre-hippie pickers, I can never help but notice the rough spots in their picking (particularly in Clarence White's guitar work) and, at times, the callowness in their vocals. Still, they were a lively and enthusiastic band, and this disc captures them at their best. Roland White's mandolin work is mighty purty, especially when he gets in a groove with Bill Keith's amazing banjo pickin'. Plus, Doc Watson shows up to play along and encourage the lads, midway through their show, and that's always a treat.

The Kentucky Colonels "Live In Stereo" (DBL Records, 2003)

The Keplingers "Troubles On The Farm" (Bennett's Recordings, 1985) (LP)
(Produced by Twyla Morrison)
Formed in 1980, The Keplingers were a bluegrassy family band from Moorefield, West Virginia, originally including brothers Billy Joe, Eddie and J. R. Keplinger and their bass playing sister, Connie Keplinger, who had dropped out of the band by the time this album, to be replaced by Joe Van Meter. The Keplingers were distant runners-up in several country talent contests, including the "Starquest '83" show in Wheeling, WV, and kept plugging away at local fairs and whatnot, even traveling to Kansas City to play the national Future Farmers Of America convention -- twice, in '83 and '84. Along with covers of tunes by the likes of the Easter Brothers, Herb Pedersen and Don Reno, this includes a couple of Keplinger originals, "Down In Old Smoke Holes" and the title track, "Troubles On The Farm." This seems to have been the group's only album.

Dick Kimmel "Wild Turkey Rag" (Copper Creek Records, 1992)

Dick Kimmel "25 Year Collection" (Copper Creek Records, 1996)

Dick Kimmel & Leo Rosenstein "Road To Braemar" (Copper Creek Records, 1996)

Dick Kimmel "Fishin' Creek Blues" (Copper Creek Records, 2000)
Another fine album by multi-instrumentalist Dick Kimmel, who has worked with Hazel Dickens, Del McCoury and many others. Here he favors the banjo, going all-clawhammer for the full length of this lovely, loping album, and it sounds very, very nice. A warm-sounding mix of soft, whimsical songs and bouncy instrumental tunes, all played with a sense of intimacy, restraint and good humor that I find very impressive. This disc is a gem.

Dick Kimmel "My Lord Keeps A Record" (Copper Creek Records, 2005)
An all-gospel offering...

Dick Kimmel & Jerilyn Kjellberg "Somebody Loves You Darlin' " (Copper Creek Records, 2007)

Dick Kimmel & Adam Granger "Live At The Rhein" (Copper Creek Records, 2008)

James King "These Old Pictures" (Rounder Records, 1994)

James King "Lonesome & Then Some" (Rounder Records, 1995)
This was the disc that really turned my head and made me take notice of vocalist James King. It's a great album, with a couple of brief lulls, but it mainly packs a real wallop. I particularly like King's ability to dip into George Jones-ish heartsongs, notably on his version of Hank Cochran's "It'll Be Me," as fine a tribute to Ole Possum's country crooning as anyone might ask for... The picking on here, courtesy of Dudley Connell, Tom Adams and others, is also mighty fine. A really nice record... recommended!

James King "Bed By The Window" (Rounder Records, 1998)
Another nice album, this time with less emphasis on the picking, and more on the fine, smooth harmony singing. The title track is a sentimental "progressive" story-song about life in an old folks home; other highlights include a cover of Richard and Mimi Farina's "Pack Up Your Sorrows" and the sassy novelty tune, "I Don't Do Windows," which may be the catchiest song on the album. Maybe a bit mellower than other King albums, but still quite nice!

James King "Thirty Years Of Farming" (Rounder Records, 2002)
Taking a momentary break from his chores with the super-group Longview, King reels out his usual mix of great new songs, heartfelt vocals, and rock-solid picking. This set is a little softer around the edges (and lofty in the lyrics) than other earlier efforts, but still a truegrasser's delight.

James King "Bluegrass Storyteller" (Rounder Records, 2005)

James King "Gardens In The Sky: The Bluegrass Gospel Of James King" (Rounder Records, 2008)
One of the finest, most assured vocalists in modern bluegrass, James King has worked with several fine ensembles, notably the all-star band, Longview, and with gospel-oriented bandleader Paul Williams. This generously programmed album gathers together some of the finest gospel performances in King's career, including collaborations with Williams, and several previously unreleased tracks, all of which have the heartfelt sincerity that fans of the gospel genre look for. The album opens with a pair of beautiful tunes taken from a Stanley Brothers tribute album originally out on the Doobie Shea label, with backing by Dan Tyminsky, Aubrie Haynie and other heavyweight pickers. Particularly sweet are some of the harmony vocal tunes, such as the quartet vocals on "It's Hot Down Here," one of a half-dozen songs that are new to this album. A real treat for religiously-oriented bluegrass fans; all those stray songs from various albums, gathered together in one nice, neat package. Recommended... hallelujah!

King Wilkie "Broke" (Rebel Records, 2004)
A damn fine set of high-lonesome style truegrass by some young'uns from down Virginia way... The hype around them has them representing some bridge between the bluegrass old guard and modern youth culture, but mostly they just strike me as a really good new band -- for one thing, it's nice to hear an album of this caliber that doesn't have a bunch of slick, superpicker, "usual suspect" ringers on it. These guys also write a lot of their own material, with an album highlight being mandolin player Reid Burgess's soulful "Goodbye So Long." If you like Gillian Welch's records, you may find a similar spirit here... They don't go as far afield into musical eclecticism, but they have a similar grasp of folk/bluegrass tradition, and are equally at ease making it their own, and keeping the vibe relaxed and admirably unflashy. Their later albums headed into more of an indie-rock direction, but this one's got real twang to it. Good record -- well worth checking out!

Moondi Klein & Jimmy Gaudreau "2:10 Train" (Rebel Records, 2008)
Mandolin whiz Jimmy Gaudreau and singer Moondi Klein just finished a tenure as members of the highly-regarded bluegrass band Chesapeake... Here, they slow things down a little and take it down a notch or two, delivering a mellow, sparsely arranged acoustic set, packed with standards and songwriting gems stretching from hill country oldies like "Shady Grove" and "Arkansas Traveler" and Jimmie Rodgers' "Any Old Time" to folk-house gems such as Tom Paxton's "Last Thing On My Mind" and Eric Bogle's searing pacifist anthem, "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda." It's a sweet set, with several gems, notably "High Sierra" and "Colleen Malone."

The Konnarock Critters "The Konnarock Critters" (Marimac Recordings, 1999)
A delightfully clattersome bluegrass/old-timey outfit, with a powerfully infectious sense of the fun, goofball side of the stringband sound. I like this record a lot; I think it's out of print, but it's certainly worth tracking down

The Konnarock Critters "Cornbread And Sweetpeas" (2000)

The Konnarock Critters "Time Stands Still" (Brentwood, 2002)
Hey... seek and thou shalt find! More great music by this great, gusto-y old-timey band... I think they can be forgiven for the gimmicky autumnal orangey packaging, which opportunistically seeks to link these discs to the O Brother, Where Are Thou phenomenon -- my guess is the band just said, "hey, a gig is a gig!" and signed on for whatever the label offered. The music is still really swell, though, with a raucous, untamable edge that speaks volumes. Good song selection, fine playing too.

The Konnarock Critters "O Sister" (Brentwood, 2002)

The Konnarock Critters "Blue Grass" (Brentwood Records, 2003)
This is a repackaging of the Time Stands Still and O Sister albums listed above.

Leo Kottke - see artist discography

Alison Krauss -- see artist discography

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Hick Music Index

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