Search - Carol Elizabeth Jones & Laurel Bliss :: Ridin' Along

Songcarriers helping to preserve a strong American tradition

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 03/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Playing Time - 44:51 -- "Ridin' Along," the title of Carol Elizabeth Jones' and Laurel Bliss' CD on the Yodel-Ay-Hee label out of North Carolina, was inspired by a line in the Delmore Brothers' "Fugitive Lament." They clearly enjoy finding, arranging, and presenting old classic country songs with a 21st Century outlook. Therefore, I consider these gals to be songcarriers who are helping to preserve a strong American music tradition that was originally built by such songwriters and performers as A.P.Carter, the Bailey Brothers, James & Martha Carson, Jimmy Martin, Jim & Jesse, Lefty Frizell, and Wanda Jackson.



Produced by John Miller (who also plays lead guitar on 2 tracks), the vocal duets also feature the solid instrumental support of John Reischman (mandolin), David Keenan (banjo, guitar, National Duolian guitar), Matt Weiner (bass), and Emily Keene (fiddle). Bliss plays resonator guitar, and Jones plays rhythm guitar. I noticed the accomplished mandolin picking in the mix and followed up to find out who it was. Due to an unintentional but enormous oversight, the album's liner notes had failed to credit Reischman.



Despite a distance of about 3,500 miles between them, these two songbirds maintain a close music collaboration. Carol Elizabeth Jones and Laurel live on opposite coasts of the U.S., but they manage to get together for festivals, concerts, and workshops. They are always crowd-pleasers with their humor, showmanship, and musicianship. Their audiences have to appreciate their great love for traditional and bluegrass music that embodies deep respect, charm and plenty of personality. Also, their earthier presentation of a bluegrass numbers like "I Heard the Bluebirds Sing" are nice interpretations in a more feminine style.



"Ridin' Along" gives us a sound that remains staunch to traditional roots. The duo's principled sound doesn't stray too far from sideboards established back in the 1930s-50s.

Carol Elizabeth and Laurel simply remind us of the magic and power of that canon. During April 2005, the duo will play a series of concerts in the Northwest, and they will also offer vocal workshops for folks who want to expand their country, bluegrass, and old-time repertoires while they learn to sing harmony. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

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