by Chuck Dauphin
In Bluegrass, there are few names more respected than that of Pinecastle Records, so it would stand to reason that if the label believes in you to sign them to their roster, you must be good. Well, this group is good – and a lot more.
Made up of husband and wife Carolyn and Daniel Routh, banjo player Levi Austin, and mandolin player Kendall Gates, this is Bluegrass Music, make no mistake about it. Though, at times you might hear some other styles floating around, don’t get too alarmed. Nu-Blu is something that purists and newer Bluegrass fans can both agree on.
Though both share the lead vocalist duties, Carolyn’s lead vocals are heard the most. She is quite the impressive singer, and possibly the best female singer I’ve heard in Bluegrass since Alecia Nugent came out a few years back. Her presence on such tracks as “Look To You,” “Roses To Rust” and “Make Me Whole Again” is incredible, and that’s putting it mildly. She really hits her stride on the closer, the gorgeous “Just Trying To Get Home” as well as “Other Woman’s Blues,” which is a very interesting track, detailing the mindset of a famous character from Country Music’s past—-‘Jolene,’ from the 1973 Dolly Parton classic.
But, I would be amiss if I didn’t bring up the other very talented members of this group. Daniel gets his moments in the sun, like on “Every Shade Of Blue,” where he proves himself to be quite the effective lead singer, and Gates lays some fine licks on the mandolin. Austin’s not to be left out, either. His banjo is a definite highlight of cuts like “Must Be The Wind.”
Last time out, on their CD Nights, Nu-Blu recorded, promoted it, and sold it all on their own. With the strong arm of Pinecastle behind them, I see no reason why this disc can’t figure for several IBMA Awards in 2012. Mighty fine, mighty fine!
For more on Nu-Blu, check out www.Nu-Blu.com!
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