Dudley Connell and Don Rigsby
Another Saturday Night

Review by Steven Stone
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  Musical styles constantly evolve. If you love traditional music this can be a problem. What is "genuine", and what is a synthesis that only appears to be authentic? Perhaps the best solution to this conundrum is to sit back and enjoy the music. If it sounds heartfelt and original and touches your soul then it's genuine, regardless of its age or pedigree. Another Saturday Night by Dudley Connell and Don Rigsby makes all the issues of authenticity seem meaningless because of its musical directness. This album is a blend, a cross between bluegrass and old time honky-tonk country. Imagine bluegrass with pedal steel guitars. The result is "new" old music. Many of the lead vocals are duets. Their rendition of the Everly Brothers classic "So Sad (to watch good love go bad)" will surely give you goose-bumps.

Dudley Connell plays acoustic guitar, while Don Rigsby plays mandolin. They are ably assisted by Missy Raines on acoustic bass, Tim O'Brien on fiddle, and Randy Kohrs on lap steel, weisenborn, straight steel, resophonic, and electric resophonic guitar. On "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" Tom T. Hall makes a cameo appearance by adding a recitation to the end of the tune, which is another nice old-timey touch. Another Saturday Night features superb song selection. My personal faves are Dylan's "Hollis Brown", and the traditional tune Woody Guthrie favored when he was into his cups, "Where is My Sailor Boy" (sometimes called "What Does the Deep Sea Say." Both are delivered with just the right combination of virtuosity and emotion.

In this age of music business juggernauts floundering on the shoals of their own greed and myopic vision there seems to be precious little space and time for music that tries to be more than merely a fashion accessory. If you are in the mood for timeless music, give this CD a listen. It will take you to a place where boy bands don't exist and music is made for reaching your soul, not just lightening your pocketbook.

Enjoyment: 95

Sound Quality: 90