May 14, 2009
Hailing from Anchorage, Alaska, young bluegrass combo
Bearfoot has just delivered its fourth album. Vintage Martin
guitars, fiddles, bass, mandolin and minimal percussion fill
out their rootsy yet decidedly modern sound. Smooth-
voiced lead vocalist/fiddler Odessa Jorgensen leads the way,
but all the members contribute vocally, weaving some
strong harmonies. Their drastic reworking of the Beatles'
"Don't Let Me Down" breathes a different kind of life into
the tune. Confident and inspired, the group serves up a
collaborative effort that should appeal to a broad range of people who like classic
bluegrass that isn't afraid to tread on pop waters. — Ryan Duffy