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CD Reviews Syracuse New Times, 12/27/00 Syracuse New Times The New Times' Top 10 Local Releases of the Year 2000 1. The Mandate of Heaven. On No Evil Star (independent). Don't let the cheap packaging or low-fidelity sound deter you from getting to know the Mandate of Heaven. The brainchild of Fiascoes' drummer Greg Pier, the Mandate of Heaven wins the top spot in 2000 for being the most ambitious, authentic and genuinely alternative release of original work from a Syracuse artist. 2. Roosevelt Dean. Blues Heaven (Z-K Records). Dean's blend of original songs and Muddy Waters' covers speaks well of both his talent and his taste. Dubbed the "Voice of Syracuse," Dean earned the praise of Syracuse Mayor Roy Bernardi and state Sen. Nancy Larraine Hoffmann in November for his efforts on Blues Heaven, and for helping put the city's blues scene on the national map. 3. Delaney Brothers Bluegrass. Full Spectrum (independent). Brothers Ray and John play bluegrass like they mean it, making the most out of simple yet elegant arrangements, the stellar bowing of violinist Joe Davoli and the picking of Scott Corbett on banjo. Honest, reverent and energetic, Full Spectrum lives up to its title. Syracuse New Times - Net Delaney Brothers Bluegrass Bluegrass music conveys energy and meaning through thoughtful lyrics and graceful melodies. The form allows artists to embellish a song without overpowering it, giving each player his or her moment in the sun on stage. On Full Spectrum, DBB reflects the beauty, and values, of rural America. Brothers Ray and John Delaney formed the band in 1981 after discovering Bluegrass Ramble, Bill Knowlton's Sunday-night radio show on WCNY-FM 91.3. Much like Knowlton, the brothers pay homage to the founding fathers of the genre ... The disc includes a healthy dose of old-time religion. Yet when the band sings Don Reno's "The Lord's Last Supper" in harmony to festive picking, strumming and bowing on violin, the song sounds less like a Sunday sermon and more like a hoedown favorite. Things get a little somber on Mona Ramsey's "What Will [You] Do With This Man," which tells the end of Christ's story. After the cry of "crucify, crucify him," Joe Davoli's violin lead depicts sadness over the savior's fate. The group also honors the godfather of bluegrass, Bill Monroe, with cover versions of four of his songs and an original composition, "Monroe's Lament." Mandolin, violin and banjo each carry the flowing yet bittersweet instrumental. The disc's other original tune, "Katrina's Lullaby," possesses the kind of elegance and charm that separates bluegrass from more popular and glamorous music. The point here isn't to overwhelm a listener or plant a repetitive verse in someone's head; it's to offer a melody to ponder, inspiring reflection on the beauty in everyday life. More than holy music and stately ballads, Full Spectrum includes a few foot-stompers, too. Even without the benefit of a drummer, the driving beats of "Shuckin' the Corn," "Jerusalem Ridge" and "Sawing on the String[s]" could liven up any dance hall or barn. Banjo player Scott Corbett downright rips through the start of "Shuckin'," with Davoli fervently sawing away on the fiddle to match him. All the while, Frank Dauenhauer moves the bass line along. Arrangements make the most of the band's lineup of guitar, mandolin, bass, violin and banjo. The group paid great attention to detail in making the recording process. All of the instruments come through clearly, as do the band's impressive harmonies. Credit Electric Wilburland Studios in Newfield, including engineer Will Russell and John Delaney, for neatly capturing and balancing all of the elements of the band. Containing material perfect for a Sunday afternoon in fall or a Saturday night in a country dance hall, Full Spectrum reverently depicts the many styles of bluegrass and reveals a group of talented musicians who treat the songs they perform with respect. Fans of the genre will find this disc was well worth the wait. For Web site information on Delaney Brothers Bluegrass, log onto www.delaneybrothers.com. from The Golden Link Folk Singing Society newsletter, September, 2000 Delaney Brothers Bluegrass
Two years ago, Sherri Reese dragged me down to Manhattan Square Park to a bluegrass concert featuring her friends, the Delaney Brothers. She had been touting their music since we first met and I figured it was time for me to determine whether or not she had good musical taste. I approached the concert with my trademark skepticism and came away a fan in the first degree. I have since seen the Delaneys a number of times in a number of concert settings, and each time I have been impressed with their absolute devotion to Bluegrass, its roots, and their ability to present their music with an air of authenticity. This past Saturday night they once again appeared in concert at Manhattan Square and I attended this concert with great anticipation because it was the first chance I would have to pick up their new, just-released CD, Full Spectrum. Full Spectrum generously offers 21 tunes, each performed with the level of energy you would expect from a "live" performance. The quality of recording is excellent and the mixing is superb. The CD opens with the rollicking instrumental, "Shuckin' the Corn," and without hesitation carries the pace right into the Gospel song, "I Have Found the Way." This two-song intro expertly signals the band's lineup, with fiddle and banjo leads in the first half and the fine ensemble harmony singing on the latter. A lovely harmony-sung ballad, "Lonely Moon," follows with a hauntingly beautiful traditional mountain sound. One of my favorites, "Katrina's Lullaby," featuring the mandolin, fiddle, and banjo follows, with solos that flow sweetly from start to finish. This slow instrumental, written by John Delaney, is a wonderful showpiece for the group. Next, are two Gospel songs, Don Reno's "The Lord's Last Supper" and "What Will You Do With This Man?" The Delaney Brothers have been planning to do a Gospel CD for some time now, and with songs like these included on this recording I can only hope that it will be soon. The Delaneys are avid lovers of the music of Bill Monroe and reward us next with two Monroe compositions. First is "Jerusalem Ridge," a classic Bill Monroe fiddle/mandolin tune, played with impeccable timing and grace. They follow with one of Monroe's Gospel songs, "Wicked Path of Sin," featuring the band's wonderful four-part harmony. Ray Delaney's handsome guitar playing leads us into another Gospel tune, "Preaching by the Roadside," another one of my favorites. Nice harmonies and a really nice feel to the rhythm. Ray's good friend Steve Lundberg wrote the next instrumental, "Monroe's Lament," after he and Ray attended Bill Monroe's funeral. It's a lovely interpretation of the Monroe sound with a touch of melancholy. Another fine ensemble piece. At the halfway point in the CD we are treated to "Better Days to Come," an upbeat look at adversity, with a classic Bluegrass arrangement. John sings the lead and is joined in that great sibling harmony by brother Ray. Next is a wonderful, "inspired" instrumental arrangement of "How Great Thou Art." No pretension here. Just an absolutely sweet rendering of this Gospel classic with fiddle and mandolin shining the lights on Scott Corbett's creative banjo styling. "Heart of a Little Mountain Girl (revisited)" is a tight little arrangement of this mountain-flavored song, with a little of "Lady Be Good" thrown in for good measure. This song has really grown on me. I never grow tired of hearing "Ashokan Farewell," and I certainly wait with anticipation for this track to come 'round. The Delaneys' fiddler, Joe Davoli, renders a flawless version of this contemporary classic, and the band plays a perfect accompaniment. One of my favorite spots on this CD is when "Ashokan Farewell" ends, and after I've been lulled into a fiddle moment, the full group gently brings me back with another favorite of mine, "He Rode All the Way to Texas," a country/folk-flavored tune about ramblin'. The upbeat love song, "The Only Girl," follows, with a fairly nice band arrangement and nice chorus harmonies. Tim O'Brien's "A Time to Learn," a retrospective look at death and the loved ones left behind, again features the sweet sibling harmonies of brothers John and Ray. Bill Monroe pops up again on the band's arrangement of his instrumental "Kentucky Mandolin." The Delaneys know his music well and play it even weller. Next, "The Hills That I Call Home" is what I call "Green Grass," in that it's a beautiful mountain country-flavored ballad from the mountains of Vermont. Finishing out the CD are the ever-favorite "Sawing on the Strings" and Bill Monroe's theme. A fitting way to end this wonderful recording by one of this area's best bluegrass bands. Delaney Brothers Bluegrass consist of Ray Delaney, guitar; John Delaney, mandolin; Scott Corbett, banjo; Joe Davoli, fiddle; and Frank Dauenhauer, bass. The CD Full Spectrum is available from the Delaney Brothers through their Web site: www.delaneybrothers.com. But right now the best place to pick it up will be at the Turtle Hill Festival, September 8, 9, and 10, where they will be one of the featured acts. Newsletter of the Golden Link Folk Singing Society
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