$12.00

This is the debut solo album for Jones who currently picks with Gulley and Abernathy in the exceptional band, Mountain Heart. He appears on their “Forces of Nature” album. Jones’ former experience is with Lou Reid, Terry Baucom & Carolina, then with Marty Raybon and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder. The group assembled for “Mountain Tradition” turns in a racing, jaw-dropping performance. Perhaps it’s because they choose fairly standard fare that we’ve all come to love so well like Under the Double Eagle, Blackberry Blossom, Road to Columbus, Salt Creek, Black Mountain Rag, Clinch Mountain Backstep and Big Mon. If you think you might be bored by hearing these warhorses again, my counsel is to reconsider. These guys give them a unique flair with clean adroit picking, and their closing rendition of “Big Mon” is about the faster I’ve ever heard. Most of the tunes are quick-paced romps, and a couple slower selections might’ve given the project a little more variety. Of special note are their peppy renditions of Ron Stewart’s “BF05” and Darol Anger’s “Ride the Wild Turkey.” I believe that the former tune was written by Stewart for this album.