randykohrs.com

COUNTRY STANDARD TIME

Review of “Im Torn” (Lonesome Day Records)

Due to his remarkable instrumental talents, Dobro player Randy Kohrs hasn’t lacked for session and sideman gigs; he’s built a resume that includes working with the likes of Tom T. Hall, Dolly Parton, Tammy Cochran, Jim Lauderdale, Dierks Bentley and Rhonda Vincent, as well as stints in Continental Divide and the John Cowan Band.
Now he’s building a reputation as a solo artist. This is Kohr’s fourth solo album, and after a detour in a more straightforwardly country direction last time out, he’s returned to bluegrass with another sterling collection that showcases not only his playing, but his strong, distinctive tenor and songwriting skills as well.
For the most part, Kohrs puts the blue in bluegrass here. There are a few diversions (the fire and brimstone of “Hurry Back, Jesus,” a historical yarn in “Mountain Stone,” to name a couple), but Kohrs recurs to various dimensions of the sad side of love, from the consequences of love triangles (”I’m Torn,” “Passion’s Price”) to divorce (”It Looked Good On Paper,” a duet with Dolly Parton that is one of the album’s highlights) to love that’s gone bad or died (”I See How You Are” and the poignant widow’s lament “Fifty Good Years”). It’s easy to find bluegrass records that came out with a bigger splash this year; it’s hard to find any that were better than this one.

BLUEGRASS UNLIMITED MAGAZINE

Review of “Im Torn” (Lonesome Day Records)

If Randy Kohrs continues to dazzle listeners with his singing and writing on albums like “I’m Torn,” folks may forget that he’s an equally gifted resonator guitarist. But as Kohrs demonstrates on his new CD, he has a knack for writing and interpreting songs that deliver their messages with a passion that stands with the best of contemporary bluegrass.
Mostly collaborating with others, mainly Shaunna Larkin Kohrs and Susan Hill, Kohrs penned nine of the eleven songs on “I’m Torn.” Standing out amid an excellent collection of songs are two heartbreak ballads, “That’s What I’ve Learned From Lovin’ You” and “It Looked Good On Paper.” The latter song, cowritten by Carl Jackson and Pam Tillis, is a plaintive duet with Dolly Parton that hearkens back to some of the great vocal pairings in country music.

Instrumental support is supplied by a varied cast including Scott Vestal, Cody Kilby, Tim Crouch, Josh Williams, and Aaron Ramsey, the young mandolinist whose father, Mike, wrote the other nonKohrs original, “Take Me Back.”

Kohrs has a good ear for the bedrock sentiments of bluegrass songs, delivering heartfelt messages in songs such as “Handmade Nails And Homemade Love.” His singing drives the songs in the best possible way, conveying the power and emotion of each song.

As fine an album as this is, there are three small elements that trip my trigger. Call them this reviewer’s personal biases and gauge them accordingly against your personal tastes. First, the fiddle/viola ministring section on “It Looked Good On Paper” strikes me as excessive mascara on a song whose raw emotion, both in writing and singing, are more than enough to make this a powerfully effective performance. Perhaps it was meant to evoke the country hits of past decades, or maybe Kohrs just wanted to pretend he was another well-known country vocalist. To be fair, the strings are much more restrained and fitting on “Fifty Good Years.”

Secondly, Kohrs’ singing falls into the modern heavy ornamentation camp, where key notes are frequently augmented by slides and flourishesÑa vocal flamboyance that is increasingly in vogue in contemporary bluegrass, but a little of this can go a long way. Finally, maybe it’s just me, but even given the historical significance of murder ballads in the folkloric tradition of bluegrass, do we really need one more song like “Passion’s Price,” in which still another jealous narrator kills his unfaithful lover?

Your mileage may vary on these points, but none of this undermines the overall triumph of Kohrs’ second documentation of his growth as a singer and songwriter. “I’m Torn” is sure to appeal to listeners looking for a fine new voice and a fresh body of material. HK

REVIEW

“I’m Torn” (Lonesome Day Records)
By: Joe Ross, Staff Writer, Bluegrass Now Magazine

Many musical moods and the exercise yields bountiful rewards, November 1, 2004
Playing Time – 33:45 — Resophonic guitarist Randy Kohrs is a well-known Nashville session musician who has also released three previous solo album projects. His fourth, “I’m Torn,” is an all-bluegrass album that will appeal to fans of all ages. Kohrs wrote or co-wrote all but two of the songs, produced, engineered, and mixed all the music on this disc. With the help of 15 noteworthy musicians including Scott Vestal, Jay Weaver, Cody Kilby, Josh Williams, Tim Crouch, and others, the result is a contemporary gift full of energy and velocity. Carl Jackson and Dolly Parton appear with Kohrs at track three, “It Looked Good On Paper” (written by Jackson with Pam Tillis). Randy has previously toured the world with Dolly as part of her band, The Blueniques.

Randy’s participation as a session musician on over 300 albums has emphasized his expert instrumental virtuosity. This project is a showcase of his singularly impressive talents as a songwriter and singer. He sings with a no-holds barred style. He’s truly a well-rounded individual who is a deserving member of the
bluegrass elite. The talented Kohrs has found his stylistic footing as a solo contemporary bluegrass artist, and his songs are distinguished by consummate pyrotechnics and drive. Whether your favorite is a hustling song like “Mountain Stone,” or a reflective, sad tale of growing old, “Fifty Good Years,” Kohrs covers many musical moods and the exercise yields bountiful rewards. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

Sunday, June 12, 2005
2:30 P.M. (Doors open at 2:00 P.M.)
Nashville, TN
Historic Ryman Auditorium
Join us for “A Concert of Celebration and Inspiration” as we celebrate the
26th Annual “Sunday Mornin’ Country!”® Nashville, TN

“Sunday Mornin’ Country,” ® a concert that features numerous Country Music Stars and Gospel Legends, to be held at the Historic Ryman Auditorium on Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 2:30 P.M. (Doors open at 2:00 P.M.) This year’s concert will be hosted by the Legendary Brenda Lee, member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Rock-A-Billy Hall of Fame. Special Guest Include Connie Smith, Jim Ed Brown, Jean Shepard, Michael English, Linda Davis, Stella Parton, Stu Phillips, Margo Smith & Holly, Johnny Counterfit, Penny DeHaven, Cowboy Joe & The Babcock’s, Bluegrass Great Randy Kohrs, 2006 Dove Award Winner – Dave Moody, Dianne Sherrill, Pearly Gates, Paula Hernandez, Amber organ, Steve & Lori Bivins, The Country Chorale (Directed by Joe Babcock, featuring Derek Cromwell, Sharon Hardman 6 time Int’l Entertainer Shane Warner, & Judy Gilbert), Jimmy Capps & the Opry Staff Band, The Jennifer O’Brien Singers, and more Surprise Guest Stars!

MCCF President Lorrie Babcock Hendrickson quotes, “As Sunday Mornin’ Country® celebrates its 26th year as a part of the Fan Fair experience, this concert promises to be the highlight of CMA’s Music Fest 2005. Sunday Mornin’ Country® is not just another concert, and it’s more than a church service—It’s a time of Celebration and Inspiration!” A Special Tribute is planned to honor Skeeter Davis, who made her final public singing performance at last years 25th Anniversary “Sunday Mornin’ Country.” ® This concert is sure to leave the fans with an uplifting memory of Nashville that will last a lifetime! Tickets Now Available: $17.50 and $12.50 @ any Ticketmaster location, the Ryman Box Office (615-889-3060) and online at www.ryman.com/events.

The Canada Voice of Country Music

CD Review – RANDY KOHRS – A Crack In My Armour

Randy Kohrs is an award-winning resophonic (dobro) player and his name (and talents) have been appearing on an ever-growing list of top-line country and bluegrass album sessions. A Crack In My Armour is Randy Kohrs’ first solo venture and the album confirms that Kohrs is much more than a ‘musician’ — he also has a very rootsy voice and he can write a pretty powerful song to boot…just listen to his aching ‘true story’ song, It Can’t Rain Forever. Wow !!

There are many more special moments here. I Would If I Could, another of Randy Kohrs’ original tunes is an uptempo winner, reminiscent of the music found in the Herb Pedersen / Chris Hillman duets; while Anyway is straight-ahead country ‘hurt’; and the bluegrass-flavored Little By Little is filled with improvisational twists galore.

Some of the ‘cover’ songs are also among the highlights. Miles Of Heartaches (Yet To Go) is a country tune first heard on a badly overlooked 1994 Jamie O’Hara album; likewise, Prisoner’s Tears is a crafty tune taken from country/blues artist Mike Henderson’s first solo album; while Out Among The Stars, written by Canadian-raised Adam Mitchell, is fast becoming a country / bluegrass standard with previous cuts by Joe Sun (1979), Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, The Seldom Scene, Rice Hillman & Pedersen, etc.

The CD cover is also pretty fascinating – a holograph double-image flashes back and forth from a photo of Randy Kohrs to a medieval scene. Neat stuff.