Search - Jimmy Gaudreau :: 2:10 Train

Every so often two diverse musical talents get together to create a fresh new sound that just seemed destined to happen. That is the case here as two well-respected musicians combine to provide a vibrant, distinctive duet treatment of a wonderful group of songs and tunes.

For more than 35 years Jimmy Gaudreau has been one of the premier sidemen in bluegrass music, getting his start in 1969 when he replaced John Duffey as mandolin player and tenor singer for the legendary Country Gentlemen (the three albums he made with them included one of their biggest hits, Fox on the Run ). Stints followed with Eddie Adcock s II Generation, Country Store (with the late Keith Whitley), J. D. Crowe s New South and Spectrum (with Bela Fleck). He then held down a nine-year tenure with the Tony Rice Unit.

Moondi Klein grew up in Manhattan of all places, and was associated with the Metropolitan Opera s Children s Chorus before he turned 10 years old. A trip to the Carter Fold in Southwest Virginia with his dad introduced him to mountain music and, in effect, changed his life. After studying music in college he moved to the Washington DC area where he soon became the lead singer for the renowned Seldom Scene, replacing John Starling. He later teamed up with Gaudreau, Mike Auldridge and T. Michael Coleman in the short-lived but impressive group Chesapeake.

Gaudreau, with his clean, dynamic and thoroughly musical mandolin picking, and Klein, an excellent guitarist, provide more than enough tasteful instrumental ideas here in their fills, their spirited back up work and their beautifully performed version of Dixie Hoedown and a medley of the classic old-time tunes Arkansas Traveler and Soldier's Joy. But it is their trademark vocal blend that first catches the listener, and they have chosen a baker s dozen of wonderful songs that suit them so well (like the best of their work with Chesapeake). Especially effective are superb versions of Colleen Malone, Black Jack Davey, Last Thing On My Mind and the classic Sweet Sunny South.

Harley Allen s lovely High Sierra and Harvey Reid s Dreamer Or Believer are newer songs that fit in perfectly with the duo s style a sound that s grounded in tradition but fully contemporary at the same time.