Allegheny Drifters RR..Out of the Woods

The Allegheny Drifters
Out of the Woods

BY ROBERT STEELMAN

Although The Allegheny Drifters, based out Fombell, Pennsylvania, could be considered a regional band they have a sound that many nationally recognized bands would do well to emulate. I was pleasantly surprised to see a couple of names that I recognized: Bob and Karen Artis. Back when I was in high school and trying to find everything I could about bluegrass, I stumbled on a book by none other than Bob Artis. I liked it so much that I bought one of my own. I thought he wrote the book on bluegrass I guess in a way he did, as far as I was concerned.

Bob is a very competent mandolinist and vocalist, effectively demonstrating that his abilities as a musician are on a par (or maybe even exceeding) his qualifications as an author. Bob’s wife, Karen plays bass and sings beautifully. The Pathway is an original song penned by Karen. She also designed and directed the artwork on this project. The balance of The Allegheny Drifters includes guitarist/ lead singer Bernie Cunningham and banjoist/vocalist Keith Beaver. Jeremy Abshire is the guest fiddler.

The music on this project, Out of the Woods, is as varied as it is good. I'm a Stranger from Mac Wiseman works particularly well. You'll also hear Hank Williams' Alone and Forsaken, The Louvin Brothers’ You'll Be Rewarded Over There, and the Stanley Brothers’ Just Dreamin’.

(Other songs include: Big Stone Gap, Beautiful, Down in Caroline, Spruce Hollow Deer Hunt, Old Olive Smith, Every Time I Feel the Spirit, and Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss.) BMP