At the January NIBGA meeting Kent handed me his latest CD. On the way home we played it. Wow is an understatement. His banjo picking is the cleanest we have ever heard. Each note rings true and crisp. Although the songs are mostly traditional he makes them sound new. Each song has multiple solos with the banjo not repeating the previous break. Just for good measure Kent slips in doublets and triples tastefully throughout.
Unlike some artist, Kent does not try to play at break neck speed but plays such that the melody rings clear and the listener is not overwhelmed by a flurry of notes. This doesn't mean each tune is the same pace. Each tune gets the proper rhythm that seems to be "just right."
Playing his banjo is what you mostly see Kent doing but on this album he also plays guitar backup and occasional break. He demonstrates on the guitar the same clean picking that he does on the banjo.
Just when you think that all the tunes are worn traditionals, he delicately plays Paganini's Caprice #21, a song that is usually played on a violin or cello. A search of Google could not find any others playing this song on a banjo.
Nine of the 10 songs are instrumentals but Kent shows his versatility by singing Take Me Back to Tulsa.
Others on this find album are 15 year old Caleb Cobb on fiddle who won the Arkansas state championship when he was only 13. His brother 13 year old Samuel Cobb is on mandolin. The Cobb Brothers play regularly at the Ozark Folk Center, Cash's White River Hoedown, Silver Dollar City and many other bluegrass venues around Arkansas. The Cobb Brothers are also state and national clogging champions. Gresham McMillon, an artist who also plays at the Ozark Folk Center, is on the dog house bass.
The CD was recorded at Fiddleworks Recording Studio, Mountain View, AK.
Kent regularly attends the winter NIBGA meetings and the Tri-State festivals in Kendallville, IN. For banjo lessons, bookings or CDs call 260-489-4204.
In last months NIBGA newsletter his number was incorrectly published. The correct number for Kent is 260-489-4204
Tracks:
1 Breakin' It Down
2 Gal I Left Behind
3 Eighth Of January
4 Turkey In The Straw
5 Red Haired Boy
6 Paganini's Caprice #24
7 June Apple
8 Take Me Back To Tulsa
9 Snow Deer
10 Farewell Blues
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