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You
can purchase
our 2005 CD thru CD Baby or can send
us an email and we will write you back with the information
on how to purchase a CD directly from us.
And,
as Hazel Dickens once told Bill Bryson "We'll be selling
the produce from the back of the truck."
Click
here to go to our Sound Bites page to hear some samples!
AMAZON.COM CD REVIEW
By (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)
Playing Time - 43:19 -- Neither recorded "live"
nor in a bar, this album is a varied and richly rewarding
project that introduces The Brombies, a Los Angeles group
that features Jo Ellen Doering (guitar, vocals), George
Doering (mandolin, vocals), Doug Livingston (dobro) and
Pete Harrison (bass). Guest fiddler Gabe Witcher appears
on over half of the tracks. Jo Ellen and George have been
making music together for over 25 years, and their first
band was formed in 1989.
The Brombies give us 15 exhilarating contemporary originals
that were inspired by the bluegrass of Bill Monroe, Stanley
Bros., Flatt & Scruggs, and others. There's no denying
the excitement on the bluegrass-flavored "Anywhere
Is Home When You're With Me" and "For My True
Love." Both could have been enhanced with some banjo.
Since recording this album, they have informed me that
there is now a banjo player in the band. The Brombies sing
their gospel numbers like "Little Bitty Piece of God",
"Water into Wine" and "Closer to the Throne"
with truth, never losing sight of faith, hope and "everlasting
eternity. They create love songs with many moods. The Doerings
evoke shades of the Louvin Brothers with an original like
"It's Better to Have Loved and Lost." "For
My True Love" is one for all their nieces and nephews.
"Anywhere is Home When You're With Me" emphasizes
the "sweet harmony" they sing together. "I
Call Him Honey" is a touching and loving message between
Jo Ellen and George, known to each other as "honey"
and "sweetie pie."
In a similar vein, "Restin' in Your Arms" is
a simple, conversational sentimental statement of romanticism.
"Bar-B-Que" is a clever novelty tune with a lilting
melody that doesn't seem to suffer from the band's absence
of five-string banjo. Two of the songs, "We're Finding
Our Way" and "Little Bitty Piece of God,"
were chosen for performance at the 2005 IBMA Songwriters'
Showcase. The only instrumental offering, "McPhearson's
Reel," was written for the sound track of a documentary
called "Adventures of the Old West." Being from
California gives the group the freedom and license to explore
other genres such as slow swing ("I Call Him Honey"),
and even something as disparate as Mexican Mariachi sounds
("Escondido") showcasing the Doering Clan Fiddles
(Susan, Michael and Mark Doering).
I enjoyed The Brombies' album for three primary reasons.
First, they create a friendly and relaxed sparkle with their
original music. Secondly, while their bluegrass foundation
on the CD is without banjo and only highlights vocal duets,
their sheer creative audacity is typically crafty Californian.
They build upon their band's strengths, arrangements, and
their own enlightened perspective. Finally, their messages
are uplifting, and occasionally humorous, expressions of
affirmation and romanticism. The Brombies have an ingenious
design and vision for their music. They play many festivals
in southern California and will be attending the IBMA festivities
again this year. Perhaps we'll see them again as part of
the songwriters' showcase there.
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