Customer Reviews

The Midnight Call

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4 star:		(1)
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Playing Time - 46:17 -- Don Rigsby opens his new solo album by singing Jimmie Rodgers' "Those Gambler's Blues." Even though Rigsby's cover of this song includes drums (Kenny Malone) and harmonica (Kirk "Jellyroll" Johnson), I'm certain that it will be accepted today by the bluegrass community with a much more open mind than Bill Monroe's 1951 version (with drums, electric guitar and Nashville non-bluegrass sidemen). The title cut, a ballad from Dixie and Tom T. Hall, is a song of a late-night telephone call from a mother preparing to board her glorybound train. Glen Duncan's twin fiddles, Randy Kohr's resophonic guitar and Garnet Bowman's high baritone impart an eerie sound to this supernatural tale. The Halls also contributed "Little White Cross Out On The Highway" to this project. A couple additional numbers sung solo by Rigsby include Bobby Cyrus' reflective "Carved Our Names in Stone" and Calvin Rigsby's bouncy "Blood on my Hands."

While this project includes many exceptional guest artists from bluegrass circles, such as Ronnie Bowman, Stuart Duncan, Rob McCoury, Vassar Clements, Ben Isaacs, Jim Hurst, Jeff White, and Glen Duncan, many of the songs have a distinctive moderate acoustic country feel. Rigsby's repertoire emphasizes song with evocative messages; tunes with lyrics that need to be digested. Kenny Malone's light percussion finds its way into the mix on three tracks. The repertoire is drawn from songs composed by Larry Cordle, Carl Jackson, Jerry Williamson, Larry Shell, Alan Johnston and others. We can always count on Don Rigsby for some plenty potent music. "The Midnight Call" is a snazzy project that will further enhance his reputation as one of the best in the business. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

I'd say that The Midnight Call is wonderful bluegrass music, but that's too limiting -- it's wonderful music, period. The fiddles and banjos soar, Rigsby's voice is a classic mountain tenor...and the stories these songs tell! Just in the first four alone you have the sudden unexpected death of a lover; a son's reunion with his dead mother in a long-disappeared train depot; an end of marriage reflection on happier childhood years; and the deathbed confession to his wife by a man who accidentally shot her brother years before. Written out like that it sounds like bleak stuff and the rest of the CD delivers more of the same, most notably Green Briar River, Come in Out of the Rain, and Little White Cross Out on Highway 13. But amidst all the pain there is the music and the faith in redemption and forgiveness that almost all the characters share. So call this a collection of hard and fleeting beauty and, if you have any interest in bluegrass, add it to your collection.

This will become a classic and one of those impossible to fine CDs in time. Don Rigsby's voice carries a series of stories that touch the heart and delight the ears. Each song seems clearer cleaner and better than the prior one. Regrets, worries, broken hearts, death, divorce, flood and worry are the stuff of songs and very enjoyable.

A word on the musicians on this CD, they provide some of the best music I've heard on a bluegrass CD. Coupled with Rigsby's voice the music and lyrics are outstanding.

MIDNIGHT CALL is a bright light! This CD is great addition to Don Rigsby's previous releases. MIDNIGHT CALL features 13 tunes by Don and his strong strong studio band. Don Rigsby is easily recognizable as one of the best bluegrass singers around today.

MIDNIGHT CALL shines. It is produced by Don Rigsby and recorded at Brickshy Audio in Leipers Fork, TN. MIDNIGHT CALL is a album that showcases an artist on top of his game.

If you are a Don Rigsby fan, this is a must. If you haven't heard Don Rigsby play before this is a CD you'll play over and over again. Don't wait til morning to buy this CD today.

A Budd
FLYING HORSE CO.
Hat Creek, AB

November 2003