Larry Sparks
Almost Home
Rounder Records
www.rounder.com

Josh Williams
Down Home
Rounder Records
www.rounder.com
By George W. Harris

I don’t know why I’m getting into these bluegrass discs. Maybe I just
love a good story. These two guys, from divergent schools of delivery,
bring forth songs that BEG to be done in a jazz vein. They don’t do too
poorly in their usual environs, either!

Larry Sparks is one of the last of the “old school” of bluegrass; he’s
just as comfortable doing a Sunday School classic like “Somebody
Touched Me” as love songs like “Picture Me There” and “Send Me The
Pillow You Dream On.” He sure knows how to pick that 6 stringer as
well, displaying prowess on the title track or on the kicker
instrumental “Back Road” with Ron Stewart/f, Carl Berggren/mand, Larry
D. Sparks/b and Tyler Mullins/ban. He sure knows how to spin a tale of
lonesome blues, as on “Blue Mountain Melody” and “Lines On The
Highway.” Real stories about real life.

For the more contemporary crowd, Josh Williams sounds and plays like
the guy you want to sit down with and share your story. His band adds a
percussionist in Tony Creasman, which gives the music a bit more bit,
as on the shouting “Stealin’ Away,” but they are also able to get the
groove going with the basic guitar, bass, banjo, fiddle and pedal steel
on the cockroach kickin’ “Streets Of Bakersfield.” His down home voice
sounds convincing on “Kodack 1955” and “The Last Song” as he makes
you feel like you’ve walked a mile in his shoes. Good stuff for driving
in your truck and singin’ along.