Friday, June 9, 2006

RANDY WALLER AND THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN"Keeper of the Flame"Lendel

THE LINE OF succession appears awfully smooth on "Keeper of the Flame," which finds Randy Waller, son of the late bluegrass legend Charlie Waller, fronting the Country Gentlemen for the first time on CD.

True, Randy Waller's voice isn't quite as distinctive or as mellifluous as his father's -- whose is? But the seasoned singer-songwriter and guitarist sounds comfortable and convincing in this setting, surrounded by the latest edition of the Gents and notable guests, including resophonic guitarist Mike Auldridge and fiddler Rickie Simpkins.

A veteran of the band himself, Waller leads the ensemble through a collection of tunes that his father would have had no problem endorsing. Among the highlights, however, is "One More Voice Singing in Heaven Tonight," which has been transformed into a beautifully harmonized bluegrass gospel tribute in his honor. In keeping with the Gents' diverse repertoire, there are some left turns here, too. None proves more engaging than a vibrantly woven instrumental arrangement of "Mrs. Robinson," a terrific showcase for mandolinist David Kirk and banjoist Mark Delaney.

With his warm and soulful baritone, Waller is a gifted balladeer who occasionally brings both his father and Merle Haggard to mind. The traditional folk song "He Was a Friend of Mine," Tom Paxton's "Rambling Boy" and the self-penned "Golden Wedding Bands" all serve him well. But when the spirit moves him -- and it clearly does on "Working for a Living," "Blue Ridge (Vassar Mows the Lawn)" and other tracks -- his stellar guitar work shines as brightly as anything here.

-- Mike Joyce

Appearing Friday at the Birchmere.