A very nice mix of original and cover material, the debut solo album from banjo-player Steven Moore was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by fellow banjo-player Scott Vestal who also helped Moore assemble an all-star cast including Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Byron House (bass), Cody Kilby (guitar) and James Seliga (mandolin). Their expert collaboration certainly speaks to the high regard and respect between these musicians.

Mostly an instrumental project, tunes like “A New Leaf,” “All of Me,” “The Ride” and “Wheel Hoss” convey plenty of driving bluegrass sparkle with some inspired interpretive twists (all in good fun). When Moore layers in some understated pennywhistle with his triplets on banjo, we hear Celtic colorings in Moore’s original “O’Connell Street,” as well as unique approaches to such traditional tunes as “Angeline the Baker,” “Shady Grove” and “When Johnny Comes Marching Home,” the latter recorded with twin banjos. Moore even acknowledges a slightly Klezmer feel in the bridge of his first original, written at age 13, called “One Small Step.” Chris Sexton’s string arrangements on “Goodbye, Love” and “Song for Dani” demonstrate classical leanings.     

The album includes three tracks with vocals. Co-penned with David Mayfield who sings lead on the song, “Just a Little Talk with Myself” speaks to a person’s need for words of kindness, encouragement and support when the angel on one’s shoulder might not be present. Sung in a husky baritone by Elliott Park, “Take Me Home, Country Roads” was recorded to draw attention to the opioid crisis in West Virginia, the state where Moore was born. With such a diverse, wide-ranging project, I reckon we should also hear some electric banjo in the context of a raucous rock arrangement, with Chris Brown’s drums and Gaven Largent’s Dobro. Belted out by John Cowan, “Bent to Fly” is a banjo cover of a Slash song. Steve Moore’s album is a real treat for banjo and bluegrass enthusiasts with eclectic tastes. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)