[rating=4.00]
Sam Bush, along with his trademark mandolin style and champion fiddle playing, has inspired jamgrass acts like Yonder Mountain String Band and Leftover Salmon, to more mainstream bluegrass acts like Allison Krauss and the Union Station. His latest release, Circles Around Me, demonstrates the extraordinary musical talents of Sam Bush and his touring band returning full circle to his bluegrass roots. Traditional bluegrass style numbers like the front porch picking of “Diamond Joe” and Appalachian shuffle of “Out on the Ocean” showcase Bush and company at the top of their game. Softer numbers like “Gold Heart Locket” and title track, “Circles Around Me,” gives Bush a chance to exhibit his tender, honest vocals which are sometimes overlooked by his inspiring mandolin and fiddle work.
Instrumental numbers “Blue Mountain” and “Junior Heywood” feature the dazzling mandolin playing of Bush and blistering flat-picking skills of touring guitarist, Stephen Mougin. The banjo driven “Roll on Buddy,” “ Roll On” and newgrass style waltz of their version of traditional, “Midnight on the Stormy Deep” feature one of Bush’s idols on harmony vocals, Del McCoury. With Circles Around Me, Sam Bush continues to innovate and inspire future Newgrass and Bluegrass music with one of his strongest solo releases to date.
