There Are No Rules!
Record Reviews

Old-Time Herald, Winter 97/98
“This album is predominantly West Virginia-flavored (tunes from Melvin Wine, Burl Hammons, Henry Reed and French Carpenter), though it contains other sounds as well-Fred Cockerham’s “Roustabout”, a Galax-ish “Stillhouse”-and an enjoyable variety of songs, raggy tunes, parlor pieces, and big string band numbers.

I love the  plunky sound of Diane’s banjo.  The Scruggs-style and clawhammer banjo duet on “Going Down the Mobie Line” is lively and fun, the song a great one.  Dave Bing and Diane play a lilty “Horny Yowe”.  Diane’s solo of Burl Hammons” “Singing Birds” rings sweetly.  Hubie does a beautiful job on several banjo “pieces”:  “Coal Creek March”, “Home Sweet Home”, “Murrillo’s Lesson”, and “Lost Gander”.

The banjo duets are wonderful and should be encouraged and praised.  
The playing is good, the tunes are good and the songs are good.”
                                                                       ~ Molly Tenenbaum

Banjo Newsletter, January 1998
“When I listened to this CD I got not one, but TWO great banjo players, playing some very traditional tunes in what I can only refer to as a straight-forward, take no prisoner old-time style-with a capital “S”!

Diane plays a wonderful and traditional style of clawhammer.  Hubie plays traditional and Scruggs finger styles.  Diane has a wonderful voice, and Hubie’s voice, while rougher, still sings in tune with nice lilt.  While each of them contribute some incredible stand alone banjo tunes, there is nothing like the sound of the two of them playing together-wait till you hear them play a banjo duet of “Cumberland Gap” with clawhammer  AND Scruggs style pickin’!  Here’s 22 tunes and not a clinker among the set-over 70 minutes of great banjo music.”
                                                                                             ~
Dan Levenson 

Music Hound Folk Guide, 1998
“Diane is a rock-solid clawhammer banjo player and plays with exceptional clarity.  Her control of the instrument stands out on solo banjo pieces like “Singing Birds”, which ought to be required listening for those aspiring to play this style.  Her voice is strong and without affect, a big plus when singing traditional songs, and she excels at providing banjo accompaniment to the fiddle of both Dave Bing and Pete Vigour.  Hubie plays both clawhammer and fingerpicking styles and it’s the latter that really shines on this recording.

Diane and Hubie team up to combine the clawhammer and fingerstyle on a couple of tunes.  This is difficult to do and have it sound right, but they succeed.  The liner notes are comprehensive,  including the tuning of the instruments”.
                                                                                              ~
Dave Shombert

Bluegrass Unlimited, 1998
“In the extensive liner notes, Jones describes her style as more rhythmic and King’s as more melodic.  That is certainly accurate, and both of them are very good.  On this recording they play together and separately and with fiddlers Dave Bing and Pete Vigour on a few cuts each.  Chris King and Dave Bing take turns accompanying on guitar.

King plays Scruggs style to accompany Jones and her clawhammer banjo on “Going Down the Mobie Line”.  He also plays some two-finger banjo on some cuts.   His playing is especially beautiful on his medley of “Home Sweet Home/Murrillo’s Lesson”.

Another excellent medley is created from two versions of the exquisitely crooked “Camp Chase” with Jones playing clawhammer and King dancing around her with two fingers.”
                                                                                                ~
Steve Goldfield

 

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