AUBREY HAYNIE
The Bluegrass Fiddle Album (Sugar Hill)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Three albums in six years may not seem to be a frenetic pace, but it's kind of amazing that fiddler Aubrey Haynie has the energy to play at all. In the time since he came on the scene with 1997's Doin' My Time, Haynie has joined the elite of Nashville's studio pickers, appearing on records by Clint Black, Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill, Wynona Judd, Travis Tritt and, well, everybody who wants the best fiddler in town on their record.

While the music he plays on those albums covers a wide range of country styles (and, in fairness, the range of contemporary country styles is wider than is generally conceded), when left to his own devices Haynie plays the music he came up with, good ol' bluegrass. A veteran of the festival circuit since boyhood, Haynie's played with the greats, learned from the legends and along the way has become one of the very best himself. The Bluegrass Fiddle Album is a clear demonstration of that, and the company he keeps on these tracks is a good indication of the esteem he has earned among his musical peers. Barry Bales on bass, Sam Bush on mandolin, Tony Rice on guitar and David Talbot on banjo is about as fine a bluegrass band as can be assembled, fiddle or no fiddle, but with Aubrey Haynie wielding the bow, well, if it gets better, I ain't heard it.

This is likely to be judged the bluegrass instrumental album of the year. If not, I really want to hear the one that beats it out.

Track List:

Buckner's Breakdown * Hamilton Special * McHattie's Waltz * Ducks On The Millpond * Smith's Rag * Bluegrass In The Backwoods * April's Reel * Make A Little Boat * Ook Pik Waltz * Long Cold Winter * First Day In Town * Bill Cheatham

© 2003 - Shaun Dale