Customer Reviews

Second Son

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

You may recognize the name "Jim Hurst" as IBMA's 2001 Guitar Player of the Year. Or, you may remember him from his stint in the Front Porch String Band. Perhaps you've seen Jim's face on the cover of Flatpicking Magazine. You may have heard his 1998 solo album called "Open Window," or Hurst's 2000 release with Missy Raines called "Two." On his newest release, "Second Son," this stellar Nashville-based instrumentalist and vocalist brings together 27 other musicians, a who's who of bluegrass, to produce a nice selection of 12 cuts that span a broad spectrum from traditional country (like the Louvins' "Seven Year Blues" and Marty Robbins' "Big Iron") to bluegrass ("Lonesome Road Blues"). We even get a taste of Jim Hurst, the songwriter, with his self-penned "Steven's Deep Coal Mines," and "Wings of an Eagle." What really catches an ear is when Jim Hurst and Tim Stafford step up to pick Jim's original instrumental called "Stafford's Stomp." Tim Stafford's contemporary composition, "The Long Road" also appears on this album. Jim's father never got to hear his second son play professionally, and the album ends with a solo tribute of "Danny Boy" for his dad. Jim is one of five children from a musical family with Kentucky and Ohio roots. He uses his family background, along with his exceptional talent, to build upon a foundation of his own memories and inspiration to create a contemporary sound that is still able to reflect strong traditional values. A beautiful ballad, "Our Old Home" (written by David Norris) presents a tried-but-true bluegrass theme of love of home. Jim also sings passionately of God's love in George Peace's "Sin's Dark Valley." Jim Hurst is a very hard-working musician with clear goals for himself. His dream of producing a superb bluegrass album has been achieved with "Second Son."
--by Joe Ross, moderator/reviewer for "Nwbluegrass"

Fingerstyle guitar is a beautiful cousin of other acoustic musical forms like Bluegrass. Artists who are virtuoso of Fingerstyle or Flatpicking Bluegrass guitar usually appreciate the "other" style, but usually they rarely even attempt the other style, much less master it. I can think of no other example of someone who is a complete master of BOTH fingerstyle and flatpicking. Jim Hurst is simply the man.

Jim also has a pleasant, hardy voice and his song selection is fantastic. His songs are not shallow, and not syruppy - there is plenty of "meat" on these bones. Here he covers the old Marty Robbins gem "Big Iron", and in the hands of Jim and bandmates the song comes out gliding and growling as Jim gives us the story of Texas Red and the Ranger with the "Big Iron on his hip". 3 Days Deep, Forever Wide has both a clever hook and more drive than Flatt and Scruggs at full throttle. A Gospel Quartet on "Sin's Dark Valley" perfectly complements Jim's lead vocal. Stafford's Stomp is a bluegrass instrumental that demonstrates why Jim was the IBMA Guitarist of the Year for 2000 and 2001.

You simply can't find a better Bluegrass album than this one. I also recommend Jim's duet recordings with Missy Raines. I can't wait to hear what Jim does next!