Andy Thorn is a young banjoist who is fast emerging as one of a new generation of hot pickers. For his latest creation, "Bolin Creek," he has amassed some top-flight talent resulting in 14 energetic performances with a strong contemporary quality, while maintaining a deep respect for tradition. Featured are several lead vocalists including Andy on "All That I Can Take," Larry Keel ("I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home"), Rick Hauchman singing his self-penned murder ballad "Up Above," and Miles Andrews on J.R. Robertson's "The Shape I'm In." The instrumental highlights include "Leavin Town," "Sundog," "Winter's Mourning" (highlighting the fiddling of John Garris), and the title tune. "Bolin Creek" is totally delightful production and establishes Andy Thorn as a rising star in bluegrass music.

Playing Time – 50:49 -- Tony Trischka advises us to “keep our eyes and ears on” young twenty-something progressive banjo-player Andy Thorn from Durham, NC. Thorn’s debut album, recorded in his living room over the course of a 4-day period in late-2005, gives us a taste of his proficient playing, enthusiastic singing, and competent songwriting. Back in the old days, recording an album at this point in a musician’s career would be cost-prohibitive, but the availability of inexpensive home recording equipment has now changed that. Besides convening some hot pickers, the 2003 Rockygrass banjo champion (and band contest winner) has also brought his performing experience with the Broke Mountain Bluegrass Band, Big Fat Gap, UNC Jazz Band and Larry Keel to the table. With minimal overdubbing on “Bolin Creek,” Thorn organized quite a bunch with considerable pedigree of their own -- Larry Keel (guitar), Jenny Keel (bass), John Garris (fiddle), Mark Schimick (mandolin), Jon Stickley (guitar) and Travis Book (bass). These pickers are making their names with such up-and-coming groups as Natural Bridge, Steep Canyon Rangers, Biscuit Burners, Big Fat Gap and The Stringdusters. Besides Andy singing lead on his own “All That I Can Take” and “Tumbleweed,” various other lead vocalists are called upon – Larry Keel, Lauren Craig, Rick Hauchman, Mark Schimick, and Miles Andrews. If there’s a shortcoming on this album, it’s that the vocals just aren’t up to the same standard as some of the instrumental prowess demonstrated on original tunes like the title cut, “Garris,” “Winter’s Mourning,” “Sundog,” or J.D. Crowe’s “Leavin Town.” Check out the triplets that Andy plays on the Irish reel, “Star of Munster.” There’s a wide representation of banjodom here, and Andy’s nimble-fingered techniques are very sound with hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, bends, and rolls providing plenty of pluck. There’s also some very impassioned guitar, mandolin, fiddle and bass work on the album. In the right hands, some of the original vocal numbers (e.g. “Up Above” or “Old Cold Waltz”) would be better served with fresh voices covering them. Stickley’s snare drum and whistle also appear in “Tumbleweed,” that has a refreshing melody but suffers from some lyrical banality. Johnny Rivers’ “The Snake” was done by Bill Emerson and Cliff Waldron back in the 1960s who may have been looking for the same kind of cross-genre success they achieved with their cover of Manfred Mann’s “Fox on the Run.” Andy and company just don’t quite cut it the way Emerson and Waldron did. Still, there’s plenty of overall good-time energy and spirit on “Bolin Creek.” I can tell they had loads of fun making this CD, and Andy has also made a very commanding statement about his potential. Like the quilt-draped furniture and walls in his living room, Andy Thorn shows a fondness for a patchwork of sounds that have a strong jamgrass footing. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)