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Bluegrass jamboree delights many
By CYNTHIA B. COLEMAN • Staff writer
 | | Jessie Carper made mandolin playing look like easy work as he sang and played his way into the audience's hearts with his talent and good looks. (Recorder photos by Cynthia B. Coleman) |
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HOT SPRINGS - If anyone missed Saturday night's sixth annual Bath Bluegrass Jamboree because of the "bluegrass," then they missed an opportunity to not only hear local and regional talent, but one of America's musical roots.
Bluegrass is one forerunner of country-western music but its own roots lie deep in this country's earliest settlers, especially those of the British Isles. And while these settlers were often poor humble folk, the music they brought with them was rich and proud, and more intricate and precise than is generally recognized. Most professional musicians, from any genre, will express their admiration of bluegrass and its players' talents.
While many might think bluegrass refers to Kentucky's heartland, the groups Saturday played music that first twined their melodies around the hills surrounding this area, the ridges and valleys of Appalachia.
 | | Karen Hise (l) and Joanna Woodzell (r) dress up Abe Pursley (m), mandolin player from 220 South, as the band re-worded a special song for him; Pursley seems to enjoy the attention. |
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Kicking off the evening, in the packed Bath County High School auditorium, was local favorite 220 South. The group's members are Mike Fisher on guitar, Teddy Lawhorn on fiddle, Kenny Lowry on banjo, Abe Pursley on mandolin and Willie Smith on bass.
Before they began, Smith asked the crowd where they were from and loud cheers arose from those who had come from Augusta, Bath, Highland and Roanoke, but a big whoop came from those from West Virginia.
"I want you to know," Smith told the audience, "that the last three tickets given away were to ladies from West Virginia." He asked if they were there and received a hearty reply.
While the audience enjoyed all of 220 South's songs, they got a real kick out of the band's cover of a Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver song, "Sadie's Got Her New Dress On."
While Smith introduced the song, Karen Hise and Joanna Woodzell came up on stage to Pursley, who is known for his jokes and comedic antics.
 | | Albert Clark (l) and Marty Jenkins (r) flat-footed to the bluegrass music all night long. Clark turned 85 Wednesday and Jenkins said he once danced 10 hours at an outdoor jamboree. |
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The women pulled a yellow print dress over Pursley's head and plopped a red-streaked black wig on top of his bald pate.
Smith said the song's title and words had been changed for Pursley and the song was now called "Abe-y's Got Her New Dress On."
As 220 South sang, Pursley continued to play his mandolin but mugged and hammed it up for the appreciative audience who howled with laughter at both him and the word changes.
When they left the stage after singing "Virginia Woman," the group received a hearty applause.
From the Shenandoah Valley came the four-man group, High Ground. The group's members are Jimmy Almarode on mandolin, Rick Altis on bass guitar, Bryan Plemmons on banjo and Larry Taylor on guitar, and all of the men sing on the vocals.
High Ground began with "Beulah Land," a crowd favorite and sang it with beautiful vocal harmonies. They sang old favorites such as "Fox on the Run" and "Using My Bible For a Roadmap," and original songs.
 | | Willie Smith (l) received the winning ticket from the shuffled box of stubs from a mother and her young daughter (r). |
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During one of their original songs, the group left the stage except for guitarist Taylor, who said the song, "Amy Sue," had been written for his wife and would be on their next album.
After the first verse and singing softly and melodically by himself, the three others came back to their mics without their instruments and sang the harmony with Taylor, making for a memorable moment.
During the intermission, prizes were awarded. One unnamed man, lost in the back rows' sea of faces, won a huge gift basket of CDs. The winner of the 50/50 drawing was Will Garner of Lewisburg, W.Va., who won $550.
After the intermission, Smith introduced a group new to the jamboree - the Locust Mountain Boys, from Franklin and Craig counties. The fivemembers are Steve Carper on banjo, father of Jessie Carper on mandolin, Jeff Downey on guitar, Jerry Wood on fiddle and Steve Young on bass.
 | | The members of High Ground charmed the audience with their musical talent and vocal harmonization. Pictured (l-r) are: Bryan Plemmons on banjo, Jimmy Almarode on mandolin, Rick Altis on bass guitar and Larry Taylor on guitar. |
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While the other members stood out for their playing and vocal talents, 19-year-old Jessie Carper wowed the crowd not only with his mandolin but with his strong vocals. He sang lead on many of the songs, such as "John Hardy" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky."
Downey impressed with his warm, smooth vocals on "Crying My Heart Over You," as he sang for his mother in the audience, who had just gotten out of the hospital. Many there also noted his fancy guitar picking.
The Carper father and son sang several vocals together and their kinship in blood matched their harmonic blending.
When the Locust Mountain Boys left the stage, they received a standing ovation and a hope they would return to perform at the Jamboree again.
 | | The Wright Kids take a break from signing their autographs on their CD's liner. Pictured (l-r) are: Levi, Sage, Mason and Baruch. To the far left is the youngest daughter who will soon play with the group. |
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The evening's headlines, The Wright Kids, came on stage to sound check their instruments and adjust their dual microphones. During this process the audience got a peek at the caliber of performance coming ahead.
The Wright Kids include Mason, 19, who plays fiddle; Sage, 11 and the only girl, on mandolin, violin and lead vocals; Baruch, 8, on guitar and lead vocals; and Levi, 5, on vocals and on a small upright bass.
Accompanying the Wrights were Mark Ramsey on bass and Gregg Stump on banjo.
As they warmed up and did the sound checks, it was clear who the boss of the group - Sage, who at 11 was already the little curlyhaired, bright-eyed and dimpledcheek diva. Flashing a wide grin but speaking in a firmtone, she repeatedly told the soundboard operator to redo her microphones.
But any thoughts of her sporting an unjustified attitude vanished in the first few notes of their opening number, "Muleskinner Blues."
 | | The Locust Mountain Boys enjoy picking out a tune together. Pictured (l-r) are: Jerry Wood on fiddle, Jessie Carper on mandolin, Steve Carper on banjo, Steve Young on bass and Jeff Downey on guitar. |
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Sage played the opening riff on her mandolin and then sang out in her strong, clear voice, "Go-od morn-ing, cap-tain!" In doing so, she took command of both the song's many vocal nuances and the audience's hearts.
Baruch also impressed with his vocals. On the family's Web site, it is noted that he was the national winner for the Oscar Mayer jingle singing contest in 2007. He endeared the crowd to him when he put on his finger picks, which had to be brought up to him by his father, licking them into place.
Oldest brother Mason expressed his pride in his siblings, but more so when he introduced his youngest brother Levi on to the stage. Both Levi and Baruch wore matching outfitsof black pants, white shirts and fuchsia ties, with the ties coordinating with Sage's blouse. When asked why he did not dress as his brothers, Mason's mother said they couldn't finda fuchsia tie in his size.
Levi calmly stood in the wings during several songs with his hands in his pockets and his face calm. Once on stage, he remembered his stage directions well as he stood straight and as tall as a five-year-old can, and never broke character, except to stifle a few yawns.
When he harmonized with his siblings he scrunched up his face as he sang out with all his might. And when his bass was brought out, he took hold of it with a professionalism that belied his age.
The Wright Kids received a standing ovation and were asked to perform an encore. After the jamboree, the family signed their CDs, with each child writing their name on their photo inside the sleeve.
When their mother, Suzie Wright, was asked if any more children would join the group, she pointed to her a little girl at the end of the table who is three, saying she would soon be joining the group, though her name is not included on the Web site.
After the jamboree, Smith asked everyone to be careful in driving out of the parking lot, as it was so full many people had to park along U.S. 220.
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