Gary
Brewer & The Kentucky Ramblers: 40th Anniversary Celebration
Stretch
Grass Music 2020 – SGM-4050 –www.brewgrass.com
For
40 years now, Gary Brewer and his “Kentucky Ramblers” have
been a well-known formation in the American bluegrass scene and now
it is time to celebrate his four decades in business. The current CD
“40th Anniversary Celebration” includes Dale Ann Bradley,
Ashton Shepherd, Sam Bush, Russell Moore, T. Graham Brown, Ralph
Stanley II or The Travelin ‘McCourys with and the CD offers a
successful example of traditional and modern bluegrass music.
The
album with 14 songs, all written by Gary Brewer, is a real pleasure
for all bluegrass fans and the word “legend” is appropriate
for Gary Brewer, because he has more than earned this title over 40
years of his work. With “Goin ‘Up Shell Creek” starts the
album with liquid bluegrass and soothing vocal harmonies perfectly
supported by the “Travelin’ McCourys.” “Johnson City
Blues” is one of the songs that Gary describes as a “signature
song”. In the quiet ballad “Daddy and the Old Oak”,
which Gary dedicated to his father, he is accompanied by the great
Dale Ann Bradley
The following are some tracks where other
musical guests, such as Sam Bush (mandolin) on “Blues Down in
Kentucky”, Ralph Stanley II on “Home Ain’t the Way it Used
to Be” or T. Graham Brown on “Money To Ride The Train
”assisted. Also wonderful is “I Don’t Know What’s Become of
Me” or “Love in the Mountains” where Gary sings in a
duet with country singer Ashton Shepherd. “Down Home Memories”
or “Girl from the Mountain” are songs that – despite coming
from earlier years – reflect the timeless and impressive skills of
Gary Brewer’s music. One of his very first songs Brewer wrote was
“Big Train”, which was recorded here with the vocal support
of Doug Phelps from the Kentucky Headhunters. “Sally-O”
ends after 40 minutes, a very strong album to which Gary Brewer and
his “Kentucky Ramblers” can only be congratulated!
Whether
bluegrass, country, gospel or americana, Gary Brewer shows no signs
of fatigue even after 40 years and the fans in UK, Germany, Denmark
or Switzerland are looking forward to the european tour of Gary
Brewer & The Kentucky Ramblers in May 2021 .
Peter
Wroblewski for Country Music News International