Search - Mary Z. Cox :: A Secret Life Of Banjo

Wonderful and artful clawhammer banjo

Brennan Sang | West Yellowstone, MT USA | 01/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While looking for modern clawhammer players I was led to this record. I continue to be pleasantly surprised by the care with which this essentially single-instrument album was put together. This isn't an all-out drop-thumb technical banjo record, Cox keeps the focus on melody and rhythm, letting the songs, rather than the playing hold your attention. That's not to say that the playing on this record isn't superb, without Cox's controlled and nuanced playing the album would be little more than a collection of decent tunes.



The tracks range from bright and bouncy to dark and spacy. I particularly love the two tracks recorded on an old gut-stringed fretless banjo, including the Cox original "Andrew Jackson Go Back Home".



This album is a must-have for clawhammer fans and players, as well as anyone who enjoys simple, clean melodies and well-crafted recordings."