This is another of Joe Ross’s compelling contributions to the Bluegrass community. He sent it to me to review, and I have to say that doing so was the highlight of my day. There are two reasons. First, Joe has no peer in his writing. A resident of Oregon, in this offering he demonstrates his wonderful flexibility as a composer and arranger. Throughout he weaves a thread of faithfulness to our roots, and a tantalizing foray into other possibilities. The Loggers song hit me…being solidly in their camp, it would. Mother’s Songs will make you want to call home—something you may not have done in a while. Thank Joe for the nudge! He’s got a salute to a very brave man---Lindberg. The fellow deserves it. Crossing the Atlantic in a 1927 monoplane was no small achievement. And as for Saint Anne’s Reel—well, discover that one for yourself. It’s a wistful surprise. The second reason is this. Joe is an Oregonian. If some of these songs don’t make you want to pack up and come see our magnificent Northwest---our loggers, our people, our mountains and forests and streams---take up tennis. Plus his choice of supporting musicians is, as usual, right on. That’s enough. He told me this review didn’t have to be long, maybe a paragraph. Sorry, Joe. This cd deserves a chapter. GET IT! John Sigmon (onegoodgibson [at] comcast [dot] net)

Following his recent “Festival Time Again” album, Oregon bluegrass dynamo Joe Ross has once again assembled amazing musicians who are among the best in the business. Like his previous ones, this project includes songs, musical styles, tempos and passions as varied as the musicians. My favorite is the very traditional sounding spirited original gospel tune “The Church Bell No One Hears” about the moral decay so prevalent in today’s society. I especially enjoyed the old sounds of the split breaks shared by several instruments. Another great old sounding, yet new original, song is the ¾ time reflective “Mother’s Songs” that speak of childhood memories and mother’s love. “The Spirit of St. Louis” is a banjo driven vocal number that chronicles the spirit of our country and the courageous 1927 flight of Charles Lindbergh. Another highlight is the unmistakable sounds of Bryan Bowers’ autoharp leading into Joe’s delightful arrangement of “St. Anne’s Reel” complete with pennywhistle and Japanese koto. Joe sings of happiness and hope in his original “Somewhere Down The Road” with a turn more toward today’s neo-traditional sound Led by the fine fiddle work of Ronnie Stewart, “His Hand is Divine” centers Joe’s acknowledgement to the divine with this fine and complex song. A chord chart in the liner notes is a nice touch for anyone wanting to learn this fine song. I especially enjoyed the variety on this fine CD. There’s nothing stale here with each song well arranged and with careful selection of musicians and instruments that fit very well. This album will surely please Joe’s many fans as well as anyone who enjoys new, original bluegrass music. (Johnny Pearce, staff writer, Bluegrass Now magazine)