Trinity River Band - Heartstrings
Orange Blossom Records
15309
This family band from Florida has been around for a few years. Initially following in the footsteps of other bluegrass-gospel outfits, gradually they have begun to craft a sound of their own. Deeply rooted in harmony, they now merge the sounds of the South with classic country, Americana and Celtic influences. HEARTSTRINGS, their fifth album, demonstrates a natural step in maturity from their years spent on the road and delivers exciting and fresh bluegrass music that reaches into traditional country and beyond. Central to the band is Sarah Harris on lead vocals and mandolin, whose voice is pure and cool, like fresh water. Her brother Josh plays banjo, Dobro and provides harmony vocals; younger sister, Brianna plays fiddle and also handles lead and harmony vocals along with father Mike Harris on guitar, lead and harmony vocals and mother Lisa on upright bass and harmony vocals. Together, these five skilled musicians produce both a hard driving sound and a gentle, smoothly atmospheric vibe as and when the material calls for it. Underlying their sound are song lyrics that pluck at the nerve centre of emotional experiences.
Kicking off with the driving groove of You Can Walk All Over Me, each track strikes a balance between light and dark, from the push/pull of Josh and Mike, to the way Sarah’s voice melts over the top of the band. With songs covering topics ranging from a classic car (David Wilcox’s Rusty Old American Dream) to the realisation that we’re not immortal (Only Here For A Little While), while also hitting on the common themes of love and heartbreak, the Trinity River Band show that they are not just a standard, everyday band. The intensely powerful Going Down Hard is the kind of thing being found increasingly in bluegrass and less and less in mainstream country. A co-write by Larry Cordle, Leslie Satcher and Don Poythress, this is one of saddest and most heartbreaking recordings I’ve heard in a long, long time. Just as emotional is Tell Me Darlin’ a sad-edged plea to a loved one not to end a relationship, with ethereal fiddle by young Brianna and inspired claw-hammer banjo courtesy of Mark Johnson.
Mindbender is a freewheeling instrumental romp showcasing the band’s technical mastery in bluegrass, country, roots, jazz and more, with expert fiddle, mandolin, banjo and acoustic guitar underpinned by solid bass. The distinctive voice of Marty Raybon joins with Sarah’s on Fences for a fiddle-enhanced tear-jerking duet. Her sensual, full, multi-timbre voice works so well alongside Marty’s soulful tones. Then they turn it all around for a classic traditional country ride through John Moffat’s How Blue, a major hit for Reba McEntire back in 1984 and a timely reminder of how we desperately need a new neo-traditionalist revival in today’s country music. Showcasing their versatility, Sarah steps forward for a superb rendition of Where Are You Tonight, I Wonder, a traditional Irish ballad. Brianna’s delicate fiddle is the perfect counterpoint to Sarah’s soaring voice that is haunting and passionate.
If you enjoy good, down home rootsy music with just a little polish, then the Trinity River Band is the group for you. They have a natural instinct for combining bluegrass, folk, pop, gospel and country influences to create a distinctive sound all their own. Each track pulls at a different heartstring, revealing raw and emotive melodies accentuated by sensitive instrumental and vocal work.
This album is not entirely bluegrass, but bluegrass fans will love it ... not fully country, but country fans will love it ... kinda like what country folks have always been about when it comes to great music.
www.trinityriverband.com
15309
This family band from Florida has been around for a few years. Initially following in the footsteps of other bluegrass-gospel outfits, gradually they have begun to craft a sound of their own. Deeply rooted in harmony, they now merge the sounds of the South with classic country, Americana and Celtic influences. HEARTSTRINGS, their fifth album, demonstrates a natural step in maturity from their years spent on the road and delivers exciting and fresh bluegrass music that reaches into traditional country and beyond. Central to the band is Sarah Harris on lead vocals and mandolin, whose voice is pure and cool, like fresh water. Her brother Josh plays banjo, Dobro and provides harmony vocals; younger sister, Brianna plays fiddle and also handles lead and harmony vocals along with father Mike Harris on guitar, lead and harmony vocals and mother Lisa on upright bass and harmony vocals. Together, these five skilled musicians produce both a hard driving sound and a gentle, smoothly atmospheric vibe as and when the material calls for it. Underlying their sound are song lyrics that pluck at the nerve centre of emotional experiences.Kicking off with the driving groove of You Can Walk All Over Me, each track strikes a balance between light and dark, from the push/pull of Josh and Mike, to the way Sarah’s voice melts over the top of the band. With songs covering topics ranging from a classic car (David Wilcox’s Rusty Old American Dream) to the realisation that we’re not immortal (Only Here For A Little While), while also hitting on the common themes of love and heartbreak, the Trinity River Band show that they are not just a standard, everyday band. The intensely powerful Going Down Hard is the kind of thing being found increasingly in bluegrass and less and less in mainstream country. A co-write by Larry Cordle, Leslie Satcher and Don Poythress, this is one of saddest and most heartbreaking recordings I’ve heard in a long, long time. Just as emotional is Tell Me Darlin’ a sad-edged plea to a loved one not to end a relationship, with ethereal fiddle by young Brianna and inspired claw-hammer banjo courtesy of Mark Johnson.
Mindbender is a freewheeling instrumental romp showcasing the band’s technical mastery in bluegrass, country, roots, jazz and more, with expert fiddle, mandolin, banjo and acoustic guitar underpinned by solid bass. The distinctive voice of Marty Raybon joins with Sarah’s on Fences for a fiddle-enhanced tear-jerking duet. Her sensual, full, multi-timbre voice works so well alongside Marty’s soulful tones. Then they turn it all around for a classic traditional country ride through John Moffat’s How Blue, a major hit for Reba McEntire back in 1984 and a timely reminder of how we desperately need a new neo-traditionalist revival in today’s country music. Showcasing their versatility, Sarah steps forward for a superb rendition of Where Are You Tonight, I Wonder, a traditional Irish ballad. Brianna’s delicate fiddle is the perfect counterpoint to Sarah’s soaring voice that is haunting and passionate.
If you enjoy good, down home rootsy music with just a little polish, then the Trinity River Band is the group for you. They have a natural instinct for combining bluegrass, folk, pop, gospel and country influences to create a distinctive sound all their own. Each track pulls at a different heartstring, revealing raw and emotive melodies accentuated by sensitive instrumental and vocal work.
This album is not entirely bluegrass, but bluegrass fans will love it ... not fully country, but country fans will love it ... kinda like what country folks have always been about when it comes to great music.
www.trinityriverband.com