Review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange - Joe Ross is a craftsman. Intrigued by the history of the music as well as the music itself, he puts that craft to use by marrying each song to the genre and era which best suits it. Take, for instance, the combination of bluegrass instruments with calypso to present a child-oriented Good Deeds, a simple look at the pay-it-forward philosophy. Or the use of hammered dulcimer of Hotqua Nights, giving a bit of light dawg jazz what he calls that "gypsy" feel. The straight gospel bluegrass of Desert Grave strikes deep, inspired by an old deserted desert gravesite in Nevada, the chorus using classic harmonies and fiddle. Goldfield has a Flatt & Scruggs ramble to it, banjo giving way to mandolin giving way to fiddle in '50s and '60s breakdown style. Philosophy rides the fence between the original Kingston Trio and amalgamation of American folk and Irish/Scottish folk music, thanks to the apt and well-done pennywhistle of Radim Zenkl and the very much-in-the-background autoharp of Bryan Bowers. Yes, Joe Ross does know his craft.

To put it together, he brought in the likes of James King, whose understated vocal performance on My Home In Old Virginia is a highlight. Al Brinkerhoff's resophonic guitar (which seems to be replacing dobro, maybe, in the modern world of bluegrass?) is a delight throughout, and three different fiddle players (Tim Crouch, Adam Haynes and Ron Stewart) provide stylings all over the country and bluegrass map. Want banjo? Ross grabbed three different players there as well--- Ben Greene, Ron Stewart and Scott Vestal--- each doing standup work. Like any smart musician, Ross surrounded himself with some of the best. And Ross's own guitar and mandolin ain't too shabby, either, to fall into the backwoods vernacular.

There is a little piece of Joe Ross in each song presented here and he gives background on each in the liner notes, much like the old folkies used to do with their spoken word lead-ins in the '40s and '50s. Ross is smart enough to know that knowing the heart of a song can many times make the song. Just another piece of the craft.

If we were giving stars here, I would give Ross seven out of ten. The musicianship is top flight as are the majority of songs. The recording is very well done also. If there be a problem here it is in "my" ear, for I hear a style of recording more like Bill Monroe with lead vocal way out front rather than the Jimmy Martin style where it is equal with the music. Now, when you compare recording techniques of musicians of that caliber, that is hardly a bad thing.
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Joe Ross brings the festival to wherever you and this CD happen to be. The infectious good-natured spirit of this compilation will raise any mood and brighten any day with its knee slappin' toe tappin' celebration of country blue grass. The songs run the gamut from traditional tales to songs that are uniquely Joe Ross, such as "Good Deeds" and "Philosophy." Joe's words paint an enduring picture in your mind. In Desert Grave, "A coyote on a hill howls a requiem for a man that's buried there. The winds provide a eulogy and I provide a prayer." Then there's the aching loss of a boy remembering the best coon dog ever in "Old Dan and Little Ann." This is well worth the price of admission, especially when you take into account the portability of this festival.
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This song speaks TRUTH! I am a coalminer of 18 years, I was in the recovery crew of SouthMountain Mines in Va. As we recovered we founds the notes to the wives and children. The reason we mine is for our "Wife and kids". It is all I know and all I have ever done. I really love this song for it speaks the true words of a miner. We go half way to Hell everyday for our families. And Thank-God for going in and being there with us.
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Festival Time Again is the latest album by Joe Ross. Ross in one of those acoustic musicians west of the Mississippi and north of the Mason Dixon Line that knows what bluegrass is. By west and north, I mean way west and far north. In the land of the Cascades in the southwest part of Oregon in America's northwest.

Being a part of a different region lends itself to different styles of acoustic and bluegrass music. This album touches many of the corners of the bluegrass continent. From hard-core traditional styles in "My Home in Old Virginia" and the lost-love tale of "Many a Blue Moon" to a Calypso beat in "Good Deeds," you will experience a world of music on Festival Time Again. If you're one who also enjoys a bit of rag-time Dixie with a 1890's western swing style, then "Goldfield" will also touch you with the masterful fiddle and mandolin blending their own story.

What makes this a unique album is that Ross is not only a wonderful guitar picker but an exciting songwriter as well. This album features a dozen songs written and co-written by Ross. The lyrics are profound and sing of life's pathways. "Pitch Black by the Ton" speaks of mining two miles down. "Desert Grave" weaves a story about an early unknown pioneer and the mystery of his tale in passing the grave on one of the west's Boot Hills. The stories on this collection speak of life in the past, present and possibly the future.

The guest musicians on this album all lend a bit of their own flair to the overall sound. Artists backing multi-instrumentalist Ross (guitar, keys, hammered dulcimer, mandolin) include James King (guitar), Kevin Prater (guitar, mandolin), Tim Crouch (fiddle), Adam Haynes (fiddle), Ron Stewart (banjo, fiddle), Scott Vestal (banjo), Ben Greene (banjo), Byran Bowers (autoharp), Al Brinkerhoff (resophonic guitar), Jason Heald (bass), Jerry McNeely (bass), Mitsuki Dazai (koto) and Radim Zenkl (pennywhistle). This album is as rich in variety as the artists noted, resulting in an album that is a pleasure to listen to.

The music is up-beat, fresh and unique. This well rounded album is emotional, entertaining and just plain fun. It's tales of life are full of life with lively instrumentation. Take a trip out to the northwest and experience a new world of acoustic and bluegrass music with Festival Time Again.

Bob Cherry,
Cybergrass - www.cybergrass.com
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