Too Blue is a quartet with members from the states of New York and Connecticut. They have plenty of focus in their personalized music inspired by bluegrass, swing, and country. By focus, I mean they have spirit, rhythm, technique, tone, taste, and discipline. They impart a lot of good balanced feeling by virtue of there being two gals and two guys in the band – Joan Harrison (banjo, vocals), Betsy Rome (guitar, vocals), Michael Sassano (mandolin, vocals), and Jamie Doris (bass). Joan and Betsy confidently handle lead vocals, and their relaxed vocalizing together is always smooth on songs like “Face the Music” as they’re “runnin’ away from the blues.” Half of the tracks also feature guest 5-string fiddler Rob Hecht. Their eclectic, well-arranged music is really anything but “too blue” because they convey many moods, and abundant amounts of soul and emotion. Too Blue succeeds by giving living, breathing character to their tunes. With nine originals and three covers (originally released by Karla Bonoff, Patsy Cline, and Joe Jackson), the band will gain even considerably more attention if they continue to play with their characteristic naturalness, depth and expression. 

Self-penned instrumentals such as Twister, Turnpike Reel, and Grace’s Fancy/Murphy’s Rag show just how nimble-fingered and proficient these pickers are. The album’s Grismanesque closer, “Mice in the Camper” illustrates clearly how well they collaborate and blend. Usually playing a 1962 Martin D-18 guitar, Betsy Rome even switches to her Gitane DG-255 on that number to give it a distinctly gypsyjazz feeling.  The witty title cut, as well as a cover like “How Long Must I Wait For You?” also emphasize that the band is much more than a bluegrass group. Too Blue has been together for over a decade, and this is their second album. One could say that their honeymoon excursion is over, and I’d highly recommend you get on-board their train to check out their tasty swing-grass music. They currently play at many festivals and events in the northeastern U.S., and I hope to see them touring further afield in the near future. (Joe Ross, Australian Bluegrass Blog)
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No surprise in those great reviews- Too Blue deserves every word. The only thing I might have added is something to the effect that TB live is an even better experience- it builds on the polish of the produced album and gives the listener all the edge and presence one could ever want.
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It isn't easy to push the boundaries of bluegrass while remaining true to the basics, but that's exactly what Too Blue has done with "Touch of the Grey." Sure, there's some great female vocal harmonies reminiscent of the Andrews Sisters, complete with sizzling, swingin' bass lines. There's a "rag" and a "reel" too, that will bring satisfaction to the purveyor of fiddle tunes. There's even a nod to classic country with a superb cover of Patsy Cline's "I Fall to Pieces." But, fans of hard-driving bluegrass will be just as satisfied with traditional numbers that would make Mr. MONroe proud with the excellent musicianship. This one needs to be in your collection.
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There is something here for every music listener. Whether you're into country, bluegrass, swing, jazz; it's here for you.
The vocals are silky smooth with tight harmonies and the musicianship is top notch. The artists have put together a nice selection of songs with varied keys and tempos and yet each song fits seamlessly with the next one. This is a true pleasure to listen to. Buy it.
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