Out Of The Shadows

Widely thought of as the best dobro player in the world, Jerry Douglas is a collaborative musician who is happy to take a back seat as an accompanist but is beginning to get more of a share of the limelight. This solo album entitled The Best Kept Secret is part of that process of stepping out, as is his leading of the tv series Transatlantic Sessions on BBC tv. That series also features Scottish violinist Aly Bain and a track on this album is dedicated to him. The album also has guest vocals on one track from Douglas's sometime employer Alison Krauss and the other vocal contribution is provided by John Fogerty. Both songs are fine additions to the album. Apart from those two tracks, the disk is instrumental but covers a variety of styles from bluegrass, Bela Fleck guesting, to ballad to a jazzy item featuring Bill Frisell and some fairly hard rocking. Notable work on violin is courtesy of Gabe Witcher, especially on the rockier numbers. The only lapse in taste is the track featuring cheesy voice box effects on the dobro.