Reviews

CHASE MORE DREAMS 2005

Bluegrass Unlimited  December 2005

Bluegrass Music

NORTHWEST TERRITORY

On "Chase More Dreams," Northwest Territory presents a polished package of outstanding originals and carefully selected covers. This, their seventh album, displays the comfortable drive of a group that has been playing together and recording since 1989. The current lineup-Mike Gorrell (guitar), Michelle Birkby Vance (fiddle), Radford Vance (banjo), Darla Evans (bass)-hasn't changed for more than five years and three CDs. Gorrell contributes two songs and a tune, including the title cut, and Vance contributes one tune. The two familiar songs here, "Uncle Pen" and "Rabbit Song," are no doubt much requested crowd favorites. All the band members sing, with Gorrell, Vance, and Evans taking turns at lead vocals.
"Chase More Dreams" shows a penchant for story songs and nostalgic tomes. The title track imagines what of the past one might change, given the chance; "Barb Wire Boys" looks back at a Midwest upbringing and the special folks found there. Stories sung here tell of road weary travelers ("Rebels Ye Rest") and two witches that met a fiery fate ("Witches Of Westmoreland"). The Louvin Brothers classic "Born Again" is a nice up-tempo gospel song, although Vance's lead vocals are not quite as strong as those of the other singers. My personal favorite, "Burnin Old Memories," Evans renders with a particularly swingy blues vibe.  Instrumentally, the performances captured here are very strong. Birkby-Vance's fiddle style is smooth and authoritative and Vance's banjo is tasteful and clean. The band has a groove born of easy familiarity. The liner notes state that the band hopes this music will be "pleasing enough to win over some converts" to bluegrass fandom. I think it is.

(Northwest Territory, P.O. Box 361, Wooster, OH 44691.

FIDDLESNAKES 2002

Bluegrass Unlimited  December 2002

First impressions are crucial, and after listening to just a few minutes of "Fiddle Snakes" from Northwest Territory, I was struck by the clarity of this band's vocals. Since several of the cuts tell stories, clearly sung lyrics are essential, as in "The Man With The Rattlesnakes" and "The Old Man And The Fiddle." Other cuts, like "Walking Between The Raindrops," have such a beautiful melody and harmony that you may feel compelled to sing along. With three of the four band members singing lead and the harmonies blending easily (easily the two female voices), lyrics are delivered completely intact. No mumbling, no slurring, no overpowering instrumentals that drown out a critical point in the song, just an excellent delivery that satisfies in a highly enjoyable and refreshing way. But, don't let all this attention on the band's vocal steer you into thinking the instruments fall short--absolutely not the case. Mike Gorrell's guitar is strong and full-bodied. Radford Vance's banjo is light, bright, and airy. Michele Birkby-Vance's fiddle is expressive and emotional, while Darla Evan's bass is solid and very much a part of this Ohio group's overall sound. Whether the pot's boiling over on a speedy instrumental like "Rollback" or the musicians' talent are enhancing lyrics of a touching military tribute in "Veteran's Song," Northwest Territory has ensured that their arrangements work well on all forms. This band has just about covered all the bases on one disc. The album includes originals and covers; fast and slow cuts; gospel and secular songs; male and female leads; straight-ahead bluegrass and, for a quick break, such tunes as the ever-popular "Blues (Stay Away From Me)" and an oddly catching band original instrumental called "Airwaves." By and large, a well-balanced, well-planned, well-delivered package. (Mike Gorrell, P.O. Box 361, Wooster, OH 44691, < http://wwwnwtbluegrass.com >JK)

HILLBILLY ATTITUDE 2000

Bluegrass Unlimited  December 2000

This Ohio-based group presents their fifth  release on their own label since forming in 1989.  Combining instrumental competence with good singing, this release features a fine cross section of original material and contemporary flavored selections.  The group includes Mike Gorrell on guitar and vocals, who also contributed four compositions to the project.  Michele Birkby-Vance plays the fiddle, Radford Vance is on banjo, and Darla Evans plays bass.  Guest instrumentalist is Dempsey Young on mandolin.  The project kicks off with the title cut, "Hillbilly Attitude" which sings of being 'a country boy in city clothes with a hillbilly attitude.'  Birkby-Vance really shines on the fiddle-banjo duet "Dance Little Fawn" and is featured on a wonderful waltz medley which includes, "Westphalia Waltz," "Kentucky Waltz", "Waltz Across Texas" and "Tennessee Waltz".  You will easily recognize the nicely done "Love Someone Like Me" a country hit for Holly Dunn.  Dempsey Young's distinctive mandolin style is heard throughout and adds a nice touch to the overall presentation.  The CD closes with an original banjo tune by Radford Vance, "Great Day in the Morning."  This is obviously a good band whose national appeal will only come with exposure and larger distribution. (Northwest Records ,c/o Mike Gorrell, P.O. Box 361, Wooster, Ohio 44691 330-567-3388)     BF

 Mike Gorrell and NORTHWEST TERRITORY have produced a very satisfying recording. "Expedition" is a musical journey of sorts as they explore the nature of a broad range of human relationships in a program of well chosen songs. Mike Gorrell's long time musical partner, Michele Birkby, is in top form vocally and instrumentally. Her expressive singing and nimble fiddling mix well with Mike's warm vocals and solid guitar playing. The newest member, bassist, Kerri Hershberger, is an accomplished singer who manages to come up with just the right harmony in just the right spot. Her singing is more forceful than the more laid back country approach shared by Mike and banjo player, Radford Vance, but she uses it to add an urgency that works well with the other vocalists' more reserved styles.  On several other numbers, the mixture of the two males and two female voices lends itself to a vocal flexibility rarely heard in trios and quartets. Kerri and Radford Vance each sing lead on two numbers. Their styles are dramatically different adding even more to the variety on this effort. Kerri and Michele sing the petals right off of Rose Maddox's "Beautiful Bouquet." Vance's warm lonesome sound wraps around the lyrics in "Birmingham Turnaround" in a low and lonesome way. With just a guitar, bass, fiddle, and banjo, these folks manage to get a lot going on. Michele demonstrates her command of the fiddle on Byron Berline's "Fall Creek" and she adds a nice harmony line to Vance's banjo on "Rural Retreat." Her fiddle adds very nicely to the bands sound.
The strong vocals and ever tasteful picking would be nothing without good material. the program presented here is very strong. Standouts include Mike's vocals on Jimmy Rushing's, "Workin' End of a Hoe," "The Preacher Medley" and Dolly Parton's "When Someone Wants to Leave."
The recording does not overwhelm upon the first exposure to it. It's charm grows with renewed listening. At one point during the reviewing, it was put aside for a couple of weeks. Upon returning to it, it laid well on the ear like the voice of an old friend . There is something right about the mix. Not just the sound but the mix of players, voices and instruments as a band. It is in the passion in the vocals that is not feigned. It's in the way the banjo and fiddle weave in and out of each song. Michele's fiddle sneaks in and around without ever walking on the vocal or other instruments. Radford's banjo is where it has to be. it pushes but does not shove. Mike's guitar is a tonal shading as well as a timing device. It is remarkable when a recoding shines like this one does- it is hard enough for the big budget guys to get that magic on disc.  If your tastes run to contemporary bluegrass that walks it's own path, with an original sound, don't pass up this little gem.   RCB

EXPEDITION 1997

Bluegrass Unlimited  November 1997

· "This band is in the major leagues" 

· "Their work on Lorena is a lesson in paying attention to dynamics, picking notes and constructing phrases carefully."

· "It is a stunner" 

· "The sound quality is thoroughly professional"

· "With talent such as this we will be hearing more from these players in the future"

· "Michele Birkby's harmony singing is a perfect compliment to Gorrell"

· The program is a varied one...with hardly an overexposed chestnut to be found"

NORTHWEST TERRITORY

 (self titled) 1995

Excerpts from Bluegrass Unlimited  Review - October 1995

· "This is an instrumentally tight group with a sophisticated trio"

· "Gorrell is not only a good singer, he writes songs with a traditional feel to them"

· "Radford Vance is an exceptionally smooth vocalist. His banjo prowess is in evidence throughout"

· "If you like your bluegrass with a modern smoothness and a deep respect for tradition, this fine recording would be just the thing"

FULL MOON OVER GEORGIA 1993

Excerpts from Bluegrass Unlimited Review

- January 1994