Laurie Lewis & Her Bluegrass Pals CD

Laurie Lewis comes full circle and brings a batch of her friends together for an inspired session of straight-ahead bluegrass. There's an empathy to the playing of Lewis with mandolinist Tom Rozum, banjoist Craig Smith, bassist Todd Phillips, and rhythm guitarist Mary Gibbons that grows on you as the album unfolds with the strong trio singing of Lewis, Gibbons, and Rozum that's equally as seductive. Highlights include "Tall Pines," Jimmy Martin's "Stepping Stones," Jean Ritchie's "Black Waters," "Acony Bell," and Lewis' own "Wind at Play," "Blow, Big Wind," and "Big Eddy." An inspired session. ~ Cub Koda

Principally recorded at Music Annex, Menlo Park, California. Includes liner notes by Neil V. Rosenberg and Laurie Lewis.

Personnel: Laurie Lewis (vocals, fiddle); Tom Rozum (vocals, mandolin); Craig Robert Smith (bass voice, guitar, banjo); Todd Phillips (bass voice).

Audio Mixers: Tom Size; Laurie Lewis.

Liner Note Author: Neil V. Rosenberg.

Recording information: Dave Wellhausen's Studio, San Francisco, CA; Music Annex, Menlo Park, CA; Tomland, Pacheco, CA.

Photographer: Jon Sievert.

Arrangers: Laurie Lewis; Tom Rozum.

Personnel: Laurie Lewis (vocals, guitar, fiddle); Craig Smith (vocals, guitar, banjo); Tom Rozum (vocals, mandolin); Todd Phillips (vocals, acoustic bass); Mary Gibbons (guitar, background vocals).

CMJ (6/7/99, p.34) - "...always [showing] a significant bluegrass influence in her music. This album gives Lewis the space to satisfy her bluegrass jones..."
Dirty Linen (10-11/99, p.78) - "...a baker's dozen of tracks firmly placed in the sound of the bluegrass canon, including four originals, a cut by progressive country artists Gillian Wlech, and an outstanding version of Jean Ritchie's 'Black Waters'..."