TIM MARTIN
BLUEGRASS FIDDLE
Patuxuent Music
CD208

This the latest of many new recordings coming out of the Rockville, Md., label responsible for exposing fine talent to the larger world. Martin is an accomplished fiddler and an active composer of fiddle tunes. This program consists of 16 originals backed by a strong supporting cast.

Jeremy Stephens plays guitar, David McLaughlin, formerly of the Johnson Mountain Boys, plays mandolin and Marshall Wilborn is on bass. Label mate, Jessie Baker, supplies the banjo. All of the musicians do a fine job on the material. Martin acquits himself well, displaying a highly-developed prowess on the fiddle.

A program of all original material often sounds like something you may have heard somewhere else, but it isn’t. There are rags and a wide variety of fiddle tunes, marches, a waltz, with most sounding almost traditional, except they are a little different. It would have been nice to hear Martin cut down on one or two traditional tunes and really rip. He does rip and tear, but it would be fun to hear him tear up on a standard or two. Standout cuts include “Prillman’s Switch,” “Viscosity Breakdown,” and “Popsicle Polka.” You have to love those titles.

This is a fine, well-played set, well recorded in the manner that marks all of the Patuxent releases. Recommended to fiddle fans and fans of strong bluegrass fiddling. (Patuxent Music, P.O. Box 572, Rockville, MD 20848, www.pxrec.com.) RCB