Give a big pat on the back to the person or persons who came up with the idea of getting Carl Jackson, Val Storey and a rotating cast of colleagues to take over the Monday night slot vacated by The Time Jumpers at The Station Inn. Storey’s an accomplished singer who can croon or belt with the best of them, and Jackson brings a lot to the table as a guitarist, banjo picker, singer and songwriter — and as a guy who’s got connections stretching out every which way in the worlds of country and bluegrass. The list includes singers, songwriters and pickers like Larry Cordle, Jerry Salley, Bradley Walker, Guthrie Trapp, Mike Bub, Doug Jernigan, Lloyd Green, Larry Atamanuik, Aubrey Haynie and pianist Catherine Styron — and though if you look closely you can see some chart-reading going on, you’d never know it from listening. Whether they’re working through an old classic or a new, soon-to-be one, it’s all mighty tasty stuff.
— Jon Weisberger