Time–Reviews
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“A superlative, picture-perfect West Coast bluegrass album. I’ve always been a fan of Kallick’s warm, pleasantly burred vocals, as well as her flawless sense of melody. When she sticks to a traditional sound — as she does on this excellent album — she’s plain old solid gold for a true twang fan. [The band is] playing their hearts out with sweet, melodic performances that get it right on song after song. Honestly, every note on this album is a shiny gem. There’s a sense of warmth and camaraderie on here that’s delightful, with an underlying humanity that’s sometimes missing on the the slick ‘grass albums of today. This is one of the most listenable and most satisfying truegrass albums in recent memory. Highly recommended!”
— Joe Sixpack, Slipcue “An endlessly pleasing collection that perfectly splits the difference between new and old. New Kathy Kallick songs like the exquisite title track fit beautifully alongside classics – and how great to see some vintage California content in the mix! Always solid and entertaining, Kathy and her colleagues have really outdone themselves this, er, time!” — Jon Weisberger, Blue Side Of Town – Sirius XM “A mixture of originals and time-honored tunes, rendered in an enjoyable, mostly traditional style. Kallick wrote four of the album’s fourteen songs, including the title track, a melodic, country-influenced piece which offers musings on the passage of time. The singer may no longer be young, but 'the beauty of an oak stands up against the rose.' 'Fare Thee Well' has a pleasing, old-time country feel, fitting for Kallick’s conception of the song as a new tune for the Carter Family to record. 'Lulu and Jack' is a sweet Old West tale which shares the story of a couple whose love endures the husband’s pioneering spirit. While Kallick’s originals have an old-time sound to them, several other tunes reflect the band’s bluegrass influences. Their version of 'Dark Hollow' has nice banjo and fiddle work throughout, and an additional verse pulled from the Clarence Ashley tune 'Dark Holler Blues' which isn’t usually included in bluegrass recordings of this song, but fits well. Several band members get to show off their musical talent on the album’s instrumentals. 'Old Red Mandolin,' an original by mandolin player Tom Bekeny is an uptempo tribute to Frank Wakefield, while dobro and banjo player Greg Booth’s 'Shuckin’ the Acorns' features an interesting dobro/fiddle opening. Fans of straight-ahead, traditional style instrumentals will enjoy Annie Staninec’s fiddling on 'North Carolina Breakdown.’" — John Curtis Goad, BLUEGRASS TODAY (June 4, 2013) "With ‘Time' as both a title song and a theme for this latest album, Kathy Kallick and her band have produced an inspiring collection of precise instrumentals, thought-provoking original songs, and an affirming nod to the bluegrass roots they all share. Time passes for everyone, but time seems to have made this band better and better. Kathy Kallick and her band draw deeply from the traditional bluegrass well, but they add a richness of taste and texture that makes a compelling presentation." -- Brenda Hough, BLUEGRASS BREAKDOWN (Oct., 2012) "Kathy Kallick has a long history of releasing enormously satisfying CDs of California bluegrass, and this newest offering is no exception. Indeed, this splendid collection of songs and tunes may well be her best. Kathy has always leaned heavily into traditional Monroe-style bluegrass while, at the same time, bringing something fresh and modern sounding to the genre. This CD demonstrates perfectly that balanced sensibility. There are a couple other factors that contribute to the success of this recording. One is that voice. Part country, part bluegrass, part something entirely her own. She simply has one of the most convincing and emotionally expressive voices in bluegrass music today. The other piece is to note her ability to assemble a kick ass band! She always had capable band mates to support the music but this particular version of the band is the best to date. Each player is a master of his or her respective instruments. Folks, this is a top-notch band with a top-notch singer. If you love modern bluegrass steeped in tradition, you’re gonna love this one. I know I do.” -- Kevin Russell, FREIGHT TRAIN BOOGIE "I’ve never understood why jazzers don’t dig this stuff, as the chops and improv skills by Kallick and the supporting team are most impressive. There are a few instrumentals like 'Old Red Mandolin' and 'Shuckin’ the Acorns' that would blow Bill Frisell and his cohorts off the stage anytime, while Kallick’s own tunes like ‘Time' and 'Lulu and Jack' have some supercharged rhythm and interplay. Her voice is earthy and next door neighbor friendly, and the harmonies feel like a balm to your soul. Good time music and playing for all times.” -- George W. Harris, JAZZ WEEKLY (12-27-12) "The follow-up recording to the excellent Between the Hollow and the High-Rise, Time continues Kathy Kallick’s tradition of releasing only the finest quality of music. Her voice is a beautiful thing, and that is in evidence throughout. The Kallick Band has for years been so solid as a live act, and that mastery is fully captured on this album, keeping listeners entertained for its full fifty minutes. Highly recommended.” -- Donald Teplyske, FERVOR COULEE BLUEGRASS/Country Standard Time (1-5-13) |
"Kathy Kallick, an esteemed veteran of the thriving West Coast bluegrass community, shines on her 17th album, not only as a singer and songwriter but also as a bandleader as well. Time is very much an ensemble project, with Kallick and her four bandmates all making major contributions to these 14 cuts as pickers and writers, as well as lead and harmony singers. Kallick & Co. keep one foot firmly and tastefully anchored in tradition. Included here are stirring covers of a handful of bluegrass chestnuts, but the newer material more than holds its own when juxtaposed with the classics. On their immensely soulful duet rendition of the traditional 'Long Time Travelin’,' Kallick and fiddler/vocalist Annie Staninec serve up shared lead and harmony vocals that are nearly magical in their beauty and intensity." -- Bob Allen, BLUEGRASS UNLIMITED (Feb., 2013) "A first class album, with superb musicianship throughout! The quality of this band is excellent and a good example for aspiring bands to follow. Throughout these fourteen tracks there are some real gems, some great vocal arrangements, and some seriously skillful playing from all concerned. Kathy leads from the front, just as you would expect from a seasoned artist with 17 albums to her credit. The Kathy Kallick Band provide a first-class listening experience for anyone interested in the traditions of bluegrass music, and I would be very pleased if she (and the band) were rewarded during this coming IBMA awards show later in the year.” —Allan Nelson, Twangfest - CuillinFM (Isle of Skye, Scotland,U.K.) “Kathy Kallick’s latest release, Time, could have very well been titled “Timeless,” as that describes the inherent appeal of the fourteen tracks selected for the recording. Her rendition of classics by Bill Monroe, The Delmore Brothers, Arthur Smith, and Vern and Ray contains a musical respect for the past that will please the most demanding traditionalist, yet each tune is embossed with a pleasing aural presentation that is totally contemporary. Although Kathy’s homage to the past is highly commendable, it’s actually her four originals (Time, Fare Thee Well, Bird, and Lulu and Jack) that push Time into the “Timeless” zone. Each of the songs penned by Kathy contain the seeds from which classics of the future are grown. Time is pure “Kallick Magic” and recommended for all discriminating music lovers.” — Wayne Bledsoe, Bluegrass Saturday Night - KMST (Rolla, MO) |