"The wonderful thing to me is that when I hear your recording of any song of mine ("L&N" definitely included), I feel as though it is myself, singing...It cannot be sung better - differently, but never better." Jean Ritchie
Folkworks Magazine Online Picks Susie Glaze & The Hilonesome Band in their 2008 Top 10 Acoustic Bands in Southern California
"Blue Eyed Darlin'" Winner Of 2006 Just Plain Folks Music Award for Best Roots Album
Susie Glaze Winner of 1999 Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest for Traditional Singing
From Bluegrass Unlimited
September 2008 Issue
I listened to this new album by singer Susie Glaze, titled "Green Kentucky Blues," before I read her biography. Glaze doesn't have a typical bluegrasssounding voice, yet her singing is impressive at all ranges. There is a difference between someone's voice being described as piercing or as clear as a bell. Glaze's singing falls in the latter category, along with a strong folk influence thrown in the mix and a vibrato at the lower registers that is smooth and beautiful. And, then, I read her story.
If Glaze's voice sounds as if it has a trained quality to it, it's for a good reason. A native of Tennessee, she is also an actress who was an original cast member of Roger Miller's wonderful Tony award winning musical play, "Big River," playing the role of Mary Jane Wilkes for two years. During her stint in that production, she decided to explore deeper into American roots music, seeking out the Stanley Brothers, Doc Watson, and more. After leaving Broadway, Glaze made her way to California and began to play bluegrass.
On "Green Kentucky Blues," Glaze is backed up by the best of West Coast bluegrass musicians. The album is thoughtfully produced by Laurie Lewis, who brought in fellow pickers Tom Rozum, Herb Pedersen, Mike Witcher, Dennis Caplinger, Rick Cunha, Tom Sauber, Patrick Sauber, Bill Bryson, and Rob Carlson. Glaze has found a love for the original compositions of Jean Ritchie. Three are featured here, including "West Virginia Mine Disaster" and "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore." There are seven songs penned by Rob Carlson, including three cowritten with Laurie Lewis that includes the title cut and "I Only Dream Of You," a wonderful duet sung by Glaze and Rick Cunha.
From Vintage Guitar
"Though surrounded by premier pickers, Glaze's lilting lead vocals and down-home phrasing light up bluegrass standards such as "West Virginia Mine Disaster," swing tunes, and folk-rock songs like Dylan's "Lay Down Your Weary Tune." Glaze explores an eclectic mix, but her special vocal style unites the divergent sources into a cohesive and artistically satisfying bluegrass album." Steven Stone
From Bluegrass Jamboree
"I received the package filled with your wonderful music, and although I have only listened to about 8 songs, I am enthralled with your voice, the emotion you put into every song as if you were living it at the very moment you are singing, and the bands' amazing ability to compliment your voice and style. I am so glad I found you and will have you on the radio tonight here in Maine on WERU (Bronzewound). I'll just be visiting, but you are going with me and we'll talk about you and introduce you to the bluegrassers around these parts...I love each and every song!" Marilyn Ryan, Bluegrass Jamboree, WERU, Bar Harbor, Maine
From Country Music People - London
(London, October 10, 2008)
FOUR STARS
"...An excellent production with flawless musicianship, a carefully selected choice of material and a relatively new voice in the bluegrass field that we are certain to hear alot more of in the coming years."
Al Moir
Sing Out! Review of "Green Kentucky Blues"
"Susie Glaze's voice at once is sweet and tough. Laurie Lewis' sure production guarantees authenticity and strong performance...On a singer's album like this the songs are key...Smart selections. Strong lilting album."
From FolkWorks Online
Review June 18, 2008
by Dennis Roger Reed
Susie Glaze is relatively new to the Southern California bluegrass scene, but her rise to the ranks of nationally known talent has been fairly well documented here in the pages of FolkWorks. Glaze was raised in Tennessee, and first chose the artistic path of theater. After some success in the New York stage scene, she discovered a love for bluegrass music and moved to California. First she became a member of The Eight Hand String Band, and then began her solo career. "Green Kentucky Blues" is her fourth solo project, and most likely the one that folks will look back to as her "breakout" recording. Don't be surprised if "Green Kentucky Blues" finds its way to a nomination at IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) music awards.
Where "Green Kentucky Blues" is not a major conceptual change from Glaze's prior work, it builds upon the formula established in her earlier recordings. This time around, Glaze enlisted a "who's who" of bluegrass talent, beginning with producer Laurie Lewis, who also lends her musical and songwriting talents to the mix. The musicians working the project include Bill Bryson on bass; Dennis Caplinger on fiddle; Rob Carlson on guitar; Rick Cunha on vocals and steel guitar; Lewis on fiddle and vocals; Herb Pedersen on guitar; Tom Rozum on mandolin and vocals; Patrick Sauber on banjo; Tom Sauber on fiddle; and Mike Witcher on resophonic guitar. Superstar musicians do not guarantee a great recording, but in this case they guarantee that the excellent material and Glaze's performances are accompanied both professionally and passionately.
Glaze has a mentor in Jean Ritchie, and includes Ritchie's best known song, "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore" and two more of Ritchie's tunes. Glaze has also been a champion of local bluegrass songwriter Rob Carlson, and includes seven of his tunes, two of which were co-written with Lewis. With twelve songs on the project, that leaves Iris Dement's "Hotter than Mojave In My Heart" and Bob Dylan's "Lay Down Your Weary Tune" as the last two pieces.
Although the vocal harmonies and the overall arrangement of Dylan's tune are incredible, and the covers of Dement and Ritchie's tunes are well done, it's Carlson's songs that are the bread and butter of the project. The title tune may well be in the repertoire of a lot of festival parking lot pickers this summer. Two other standouts are "Albuquerque" and "I Only Dream of You." Glaze hasn't tackled western swing on her past recordings, but her voice is well suited for this genre, and Carlson's melody and lyrics for Albuquerque not only pay tribute to swing, but capture the genre's fun based sound quite readily. "Albuquerque is a word that rhymes with turkey" is a line Bob Wills would've loved.
Carlson's "I Only Dream of You" has all the components of a country standard. Rick Cunha does the male voice in this duet, and he and Glaze present a story of love lost and the loneliness that ensues. Cunha and Glaze's voice blend and intertwine quite well. And Carlson's melody and the tag line are the sort that stick in your brain. Someone should hep Tim and Faith about this song.
Lewis' production brings out the best in Glaze. Glaze and her husband Steve Rankin share co-production credits, and Rick Cunha carries the recording credit. This is major league, pristine sound quality.
As the keynote speaker at a mid-1990s IBMA convention, Marty Stuart spoke eloquently about the need to recognize tradition in bluegrass music, but not to be bound by it. Stuart spoke to the need for new material. "Rocky Top is a great song, but we've all heard it many times," said Stuart. With "Green Kentucky Blues," Glaze not only honors tradition in embracing Ritchie's songs, but also brings solid, fresh new material in Carlson's songs. It's the best of both worlds.
"Green Kentucky Blues" is a fine project that should help propel Susie Glaze into the starting lineup at bluegrass festivals nationwide.
Bluegrass Unlimited Reviews "Blue Eyed Darlin'"
"One of the most significant aspects of this latest Susie Glaze recording project is that it introduces the songwriting talents of bandmember Rob Carlson with such pieces as "Hurricane," "My Own Backyard," and "The River Road"...Susie is supported by her Hilonesome Band who augment her emotionally-charged vocal arrangements. "Blue Eyed Darlin'" is a wonderful collection of contemporary bluegrass music from an important voice on the California Bluegrass scene."
CLICK HERE To Download One Page Promo on "Blue Eyed Darlin''" (Adobe File)
Bluegrass Unlimited Reviews "Home On The Hill"
"Susie Glaze is an enticing folk singer from California's gold coast, possessing a sultry soprano vocal style that contains a distinct Jean Ritchie influence. "Home On The Hill" is her debut recording and includes material extracted from a variety of sources ranging from bluegrass ("Making Plans," "Wichita," and "Who Will Watch The Home Place") to public domain pieces like "Lightning Express" and "Go Dig My Grave" (i.e. "Butcher Boy"). Also included are several pieces from friend and mentor Jean Ritchie. Of the 13 selections, some of the more noticeable standouts include the Celtic-flavored "Brightest And Best," "One More Mile," and Lucinda Williams' "Prove My Love." For a first time effort, "Home On The Hill" definitely scores a musical home run and is one of the more significant folk efforts of recent memory."
Larry Wines' Review of Blue Eyed Darlin'
Click here to read Larry Wines' Review of Blue Eyed Darlin' in Folkworks
Sing Out! Reviews "Home On The Hill"
"With a recommendation from none other than Jean Ritchie, Susie Glaze will be assured of attentive listeners. A full acoustic band joins Glaze for lovely versions of "One More Mile" and Gillian Welch and David Rawlings' "Paper Wings." With tasteful arrangements and carefully selected material, "Home on the Hill" is a fine introduction to a new voice." -- RL
"Everything Begins in the Human Heart" Feature Article from FolkWorks
Click here to read the Folkworks feature article by Dennis Roger Reed
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"The wonderful thing to me is that when I hear your recording of any song of mine ("L&N" definitely included), I feel as though it is myself, singing...It cannot be sung better - differently, but never better." Jean Ritchie
