Behind the Scenes

The post-millennium proliferation of bluegrass performers on labels like Pinecastle and Lonesome Day shows no signs of letting up. And with a healthy market, listeners can choose between traditional, progressive, and the mushy middle. Mandolinist-singer Darrell Webb falls on the more traditional end of the pendulum, proudly showcasing the country twang in his vocal style on Behind the Scenes. He deepens the impression of good, old-fashioned music by relying on an even dozen songs that also lean toward tradition. The album gets a good start with the bouncy "Beg You Little Darling Not to Cry," and there's plenty of hot picking by Webb and guitarist Ron Stewart. While Webb handles most of the vocals on Behind the Scenes, he lets Dolly Parton take the lead on "Cold," a song she wrote. Parton's in good voice, and there's some great dobro work by Phil Leadbetter. There's also a nice take on "The Lonesome Fugitive," a song that Merle Haggard turned into a hit in the late '60s. Webb and friends' version is much more spry, driven forward by Harold Nixon's fine bass work. The album closes with "Lover's Lane," a lively song with a depressing lyric borrowed from the Carter Family. Behind the Scenes is an enjoyable album with solid picking and singing, and a fine introduction to Darrell Webb. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., Rovi