This disc finds Marty Raybon going back to the bluegrass roots from the formative years of his musical career. As a member of the country group Shenandoah, Raybon experienced success at a level most bands only dream of. But it wasn't enough and Raybon left the group. He has recorded several times since then, including a disc with his brother Tim and two gospel CDs that marked his growing spirituality. His latest was recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama at the world famous Fame Studios.
The disc starts off with a Flatt and Scruggs tune, "Down the Road," and it is immediately apparent that Raybon's voice is perfectly suited for bluegrass. The bouncy number is driven by an all-star group for this disc that includes guitar virtuoso Bryan Sutton, dobro master Rob Ickes, David Talbot on banjo, and Shad Cobb on fiddle. Cobb's fine work is one of the disc's many highlights.
Raybon selected other songs written by the masters of bluegrass with two from Bill Monroe and three from Jimmy Martin. Monroe's "Rocky Road Blues" features a strong Raybon vocal with Cobb's fiddle dancing around every line. Baseball and love metaphors abound in "Home Run Man," a Martin and Buck White tune.
"Prayer Bells of Heaven" is a driving Martin gospel tune with an earnest lead vocal from Raybon and a fine banjo solo compliments of Talbot. Sutton, as he does throughout the disc, doubles on mandolin. Raybon's faith is explored in his song "All In The Hands of Jesus", featuring outstanding vocal harmonies. The exquisite harmony vocals on Full Circle are handled by brother Tim Raybon and Paul Brewster, from Ricky Skaggs' Kentucky Thunder.
Another highlight is the lament for a love that has burned out, "Ghost in This House". Raybon's soaring lead conveys the loneliness and despair of a man who is " ...just a shadow upon these walls, as quietly as a mouse I haunt these halls..". With help from singer Sonya Isaacs, Raybon explores the joy of a loving relationship on the self-penned "Everything".
Raybon shows that the urge he felt to go back to bluegrass was on target. Even with the strong instrumental support and fine song selection, you will find, as I did, that your focus keeps coming back to the lead vocals. As the leader and producer, Raybon has fashioned an outstanding disc that expresses his musical vision. I hope that he continues to share it with us. Highly recommended !!!
