The Bluegrass Storyteller

While artists often seem to randomly name their latest effort, James King has carefully aligned content with title on Bluegrass Storyteller. The music, let there be no doubt, is traditional bluegrass, harking back to Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley. And the 13 songs, from "Coldest Day of Winter" to "Just as the Sun Went Down," each tell a story. Singer James King and his stories are backed by fine ensemble work by mandolinist Kevin Prater, banjoist Bernie Green, bassist Jerry McNeely, and fiddler Adam Haynes. King has borrowed songs from a number of writers, from Tom T. and Dixie Hall to Carl Jackson to Fred Eaglesmith. "Echo Mountain" tells the heartbreaking tale of a father who believes the family dog, who is covered in blood, has killed his infant son. The father shoots the dog, only to find the baby safe and two dead wolves at the backdoor. Other songs — fathers meeting daughters they never knew they had, newlyweds meeting a bitter divorced man — specialize at surprising and pulling the listener's heartstrings. Since this is a country/bluegrass album, the last song — "Just as the Sun Went Down" — is the obligatory religious number, and should please traditionalists. Bluegrass Storyteller is a fine outing with good singing, solid instrumental work, and great stories. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., Rovi