Review: Robert Earl Keen, Bluegrass Sessions

Subject: Review: Robert Earl Keen, Bluegrass Sessions
From: GUEST,Arke
Date: 15 May 15 - 05:23 PM

No interest in the Tom Russell CD posted a day or two ago so probably none for Robert Earl Keen, but just in case. Here is notice.

I happen to like Keen's music and enjoyed most of what I heard on the new CD of bluegrass songs. This CD lacked the high harmonies and horrific banjo and concentrated on the songs. I really like "Poor Ellen Smith" and many of the other selections.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Earl Keen, Bluegrass Sessions
From: Wesley S
Date: 15 May 15 - 09:41 PM

Who's the backup band on the recording? Anyone we know? I was able to see Keen in a little club as a solo artist. Great stuff.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Earl Keen, Bluegrass Sessions
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 15 May 15 - 10:45 PM

The backup was one of the things that appealed to me. I found the following info just a few minutes ago. It does explain why the backup sounded so good.

Happy Prisoner was produced by Lloyd Maines, who was also at the helm of the Texas country icon's 2011 LP, Ready for Confetti. Maines' daughter Natalie (of Dixie Chicks fame) lends her vocals to a track, as do Lyle Lovett and Peter Rowan. Nickel Creek's Sara Watkins joins on fiddle and Danny Barnes is on banjo, along with several other guest musicians and the singer's road band. For Keen, this project has been a long time coming.