“Deep in the Mountains” by Longview

Longview
Deep in the Mountains
Rounder Records
3.5 stars (out of 5)

Comprised of six of bluegrass music’s premier singers — James King, Don Rigsby, Lou Reid — and instrumentalists — Marshall Wilborn, Ron Stewart, and J. D. Crowe — the current lineup of Longview makes their recording debut with a neat and concise twelve-track disc that showcases the finest elements of each of its principals.

The spotlight is most assuredly on the lead vocalists and while there is too little King — only five tracks out of twelve —for my tastes, one mustn’t quibble when presented with a collection that celebrates the history of the music while maintaining a modern approach. Two of King’s lead numbers — “Baptism of Jesse Taylor” and “Georgia Bound”- should be bluegrass radio hits.

The three lead singers take turns on Marshall Wilburn’s “Weathered Grey Stone” to excellent effect. Rigsby and Reid swap lead and tenor harmony parts on “Room at the Top of the Stairs” and “I’ll Love Nobody But You.” Wilborn and Stewart add some baritone to select cuts.

The instrumentation is more than fine, but not as flashy as some might like. There is only one instrumental, a take on “Cotton Eyed Joe” that might raise an eyebrow or two before listening; do we really need another version of this tired jam standard? The answer is apparently Yes, as the band seems particularly fired-up with Stewart’s fiddling leading the way; Rigsby drops in a nice mandolin break as a bonus.

Deep in the Mountains, the fourth Longview album but first in six years, showcases not only the talents of the individual musicians and singers, but shows how well an occasional super-group can come together to celebrate a mutual love of (mostly) traditional bluegrass.

by Donald Teplyske