Search - Randy Howard :: Rest My Case

A great tribute to an exceptional man and fiddler

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 03/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As the 1999 IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year kicks off this album with "New Camptown Races," one realizes that they are in for a ride on the Randy Howard Express. The late Randy Howard then launches into his original title cut, "I Rest My Case," with its Dawglike feel. With over an hour of music on this album, it's a fun journey and bound to have something for everyone. The interesting thing is that there are only 14 tracks on the project, with 12 of them spanning four minutes or more each. What this does is give each supporting musician a chance to also shine, as if in an exceptional jam with the likes of Bryan Sutton, Dennis Crouch, Kathy Chiavola, Al Perkins, Carl Jackson, David Grisman, Don Rigsby, Jerry Douglas, Larry Cordle, Ron Block, Roy Huskey Jr., Sam Bush, and others. Instrumental standouts are Ain't No Part of Nuthin' (written by Chiavola), Kansas City Kitty, So Long Bill (written by Howard), Houdini (written by Howard), and What a Wonderful World. The standard, Sweet Bunch of Daisies, is given a raw-boned jazzy arrangement featuring only fiddle, bass, electric and acoustic guitars (played by Romane). Besides the nine instrumental tunes, the album offers five songs with lead vocals sung by Don Rigsby or Carl Jackson. Two slower tracks (Fit For A King, River of Tears) produced by Jackson add a little too much drumming to the mix for my taste. Rigsby does a fine job singing Dan Fogelberg's "Leader of the Band" and Joe Stuart's "A Lonesome Road" and Al Clausser's "I Hear A Sweet Voice Callin'." This album doesn't knock us upside the head with one hoedown after another. On the contrary, it serves up an eclectic selection of fast and slow, instrumentals and vocals, traditional and contemporary, country to swing, old-time to bluegrass. During Howard's short time with us, he won numerous prestigious fiddle contests. He also became a successful studio musician and played on many others' albums after arriving in Nashville at age 28. Some of those he's recorded with include Garth Brooks, Shelby Lynne, George Jones, and Tammy Wynette. His decade of session work reinforced his reputation and abilities as a supportive musician and musical teamplayer. Ten years later, it was cancer that took Randy's life in 1999. It was a sad day indeed for the bluegrass and country music community. "I Rest My Case" was Randy Howard's swan song, recorded during a three-year period from 1996-99. It's a great tribute to an exceptional man, a highly proficient fiddler who was full of energy and humor while he was with us. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)"

Great music

W. Honker | Dallas, TX | 09/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not only some of the greatest fiddle playing ever, but wonderful playing by Sam Bush, David Grisman, Bryan Sutton, Jerry Douglas, and two great great bass players, Roy Huskey Jr. and Dennis Crouch. It also features some fine vocal work by Don Rigsby and Carl Jackson, including a classic duet on "A Lonesome Road." That one cut is worth the price of this CD!"