Williams & Clark
Expedition:
Born To Roam
Album Review
by Joe Ross
When the Delmore Brothers recorded Alton Delmore's
composition, She Left Me Standing On The Mountain for King Records in
1946, they probably never expected that it would become the opening cut on
Williams & Clark Expedition's sophomore release 57 years later. However, the
song sends a significant message that this Nashville-based contemporary
bluegrass band has a heartfelt respect for the roots of bluegrass music, despite
the fact that they have now created their own signature sound around the
accomplished picking and singing of Blake and Kimberly Williams, Wayne Southards,
Bobby Clark, and guest fiddler Tim Crouch.
The band's distinctive and characteristic presentation revolves around excellent song selection, strong lead vocals from both Southards and K. Williams, nicely blended harmonies, impressive instrumental work, superior music arranging, and the ability to cover many musical moods. Guest fiddler Tim Crouch also has a tastefully-rendered style that fits perfectly, and actually a necessity for this band's sound, and I can only hope that he (or a fiddler of similar ability) becomes a full-fledged fifth member of W&CE.
Oklahoma native Bobby Clark is an award-winning mandolin champion who has worked with Vince Gill, Vassar Clements, Larry McNeely, Peter Rowan, Jim Lauderdale, The Bluegrass Cardinals, and most recently 16 years with Mike Snider's group. Veteran banjo-player Blake Williams, from Tennessee, has played and recorded with Lester Flatt in the 70's, Bill Monroe in the 80's, and Mike Snider Band. From Sparta, TN (also Lester Flatt's birthplace), Blake has been called "The Sparta Flash," presumably for his instrumental prowess on the 5-string banjo. Wayne Southards, hailing from Missouri, has performed with John Conlee, The McCarters, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Weary Hearts, Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time, Kathy Chiavola, and as the lead vocalist and guitarist with the Tennessee Gentlemen.
Bassist Kimberly Williams, originally from Texan, has performed on many top songwriters' demos and became an event and concert producer for Opryland Productions. She sings of her love for the Lone Star State in Billy Joe Foster and Luke Reed's "West Texas Again." Two other songs, "A Better Day" and "Fly Away Home," clearly hold special meaning for Kimberly, as they were written by her father, Philip East.
Born To Roam is an album that yields bountiful rewards as it showcases the many talents of the Williams & Clark Expedition. The album alternates between five songs apiece for Wayne Southards and Kimberly Williams to each sing lead vocals. Each and every number has unique interpretive twists.
The album's title cut portrays a standard theme in bluegrass music. "Across The Blue Ridge Mountain" is given a leisurely treatment that really works. A song from Dixie Hall, "Let Me Fly Low," presents an interesting perspective from a guardian angel's viewpoint. "Around This Fire" is an evocative and nostalgic song of home, which is receiving good airplay from its inclusion of Prime Cuts of Bluegrass, Vol. 66. "Together All Alone" is a contemporary bluegrass love song. Blake Williams' instrumental, "Expedition," is right snappy, while Bobby Clark's "Trigger Happy" is a Grismanesque new acoustic piece.
The year 2003 hasn't even drawn to a close yet, and The Williams & Clark Expedition is already booked for the May, 2005 Doyle Lawson Bluegrass Festival in Denton, NC. Born To Roam is an album that will only serve to increase their far-reaching popularity and make them one of the most happening bluegrass bands in demand today. It's a first-rate project from a class act.