Soulful bluegrass with feeling and expression
J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 07/29/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Soulgrass, a band formed in the spring of 2001 which calls south central Kentucky home, has taken an approach to their contemporary bluegrass that combines elements of soul, R&B, rock, country, and folk. The group is Debbie Heavers (bass, guitar, vocals), David Foster (guitar, bass, vocals), Curtis Burch (dobro, bass), Joe Larson (banjo, harmonica, vocals), and Joel Whittinghill (fiddle, mandolin). Bill Verheide plays the spoons on "Gimme Some Lovin'." The covers on this album range from Leon Jackson's "Love Please Come Home" to "Downtown" (remember the song that won Petula Clark a Grammy in 1964) to a Jackson 5 tune (I Want You Back), some Beatles (Help), and one originally recorded by the Spencer Davis Group (Gimme Some Lovin'). The seven original numbers written by Debbie Heavers that fill out Soulgrass' debut album clearly show that Heavers is a prolific singer-songwriter. Her songs about relationships have a strong country feel, and "Stay With Me" rocks. Soulgrass succeeds by presenting their brand of bluegrass with strong feeling, emotion and expression.
---Joe Ross, moderator/reviewer, Nwbluegrass"