Album Review of
I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me

Written by Joe Ross
January 8, 2019 - 12:00am EST
Review Rating Star Review Rating Star Review Rating Star Review Rating Star Review Rating Star

Carolina Blue is a bluegrass band dedicated to preserving a traditional style of their music as played by Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys. Yet, this project features all new tightly-crafted original material in that vein presented with consummate musicianship and cohesive energy. Based in North Carolina, the band formed in 2007 after the release of the album "Nothing So Blue." Guitarist Bobby Powell and mandolinist Tim Jones share most of the songwriting duties on songs with traditional and gospel bluegrass themes like “Cold, Lonely and Blue,” “Longing For Home,” “Rusty Rails” and “I’ll Meet Her In Heaven.” The title cut, penned by Roy Chapman,” offers snippets of popular bluegrass songs as the band professes their loyalty to this style. “I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me” is a welcome addition to their catalog. It follows "Sounds of Kentucky Grass" (2017) which landed the band their first #1 album on the Roots Music Charts. Band members include Bobby Powell (guitar, vocals), Tim Jones (mandolin, vocals), Reese Combs (upright bass, vocals), James McDowell (banjo, vocals), and Aynsley Porchak (fiddle). David Johnson also contributed twin fiddle on seven tracks. Carolina Blue continues to build a far-reaching legion of fans, and they will go far in bluegrass music. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)