Cybergrass Bluegrass Music News: Jim Van Cleve Accepts 'No Apologies' on Debut Solo Album

BMNN wrote: on Apr. 12, 2006:

Nashville, TN - Bluegrass and more from a new master is on tap, when Mountain Heart's hot young fiddle player, Jim Van Cleve, makes his solo debut with No Apologies (Rural Rhythm) on May 9th. Like the band he helped to found six years ago, Van Cleve pushes boundaries and forges bold new connections between genres. This time though, it's the 26 year old who's front and center, and the album not only showcases the skills and creativity that have made him a concert favorite and an increasingly sought-after studio player, but offers a comprehensive revelation of a complete musical personality as Van Cleve takes on the roles of producer, arranger, composer and even lead singer.

Recorded at sessions interwoven between Mountain Heart's frequent tours, No Apologies draws on the group's talents—bandmates Adam Steffey (four time winner of the IBMA's Mandolin Player of the Year award), Clay Jones (guitar), bassist Jason Moore, Steve Gulley and Barry Abernathy (vocals) are all on board—while moving beyond a simple recapitulation of their popular signature sounds. In part, that's because Van Cleve added musicians like resophonic guitarist Rob Ickes, banjo player Ron Stewart, guitarist Bryan Sutton and singers Ronnie Bowman and Sonya Isaacs to the mix; in part because of the emphasis on Van Cleve's growing tune- and songwriting skills— his name is on six of the album's eleven selections; and in part because, as Jim laughingly puts it, "sometimes in Mountain Heart I get voted down, and though I'm cool with that, on this one I got to make all the decisions myself."

The result is a collection that reflects not only the influences Van Cleve has absorbed, but the creativity that's emerged during his time in Mountain Heart and in a growing body of studio work on recordings like the Grammy-winning Livin', Lovin', Losin': The Songs Of The Louvin Brothers, and country chart-topper Carrie Underwood's multi-platinum debut album. Both can be heard here in durable classics like "Train 45," new songs like "Way It Always Seems To Go" (marking Jim's debut as a lead singer) the classic-in-the-making, "Let The Big Dog Eat," and in invigorating blends of traditional and forward-looking elements in original instrumentals like "Fall Creek Falls" and "Devil's Courthouse." Given Van Cleve's expressive virtuosity and emotional depth, these would be enough to constitute a noteworthy album by themselves. Yet beyond these refreshing performances, Van Cleve moves into new territory with the haunting "Scars" co-produced by Mark Bright (Mountain Heart, Rascal Flatts) and the boundary-breaking "Grey Afternoon," rounding out this portrait of a fiddler with unexpected grace and musical sophistication.

"I wanted to make an album that would reflect everything that I've become as a musician," Van Cleve says, and he's done the job with typical musical wit and brilliance. Filled with glittering performances, supple arrangements and substantive, wide-ranging material, No Apologies is bound not only to please his long-time fans but to make Jim Van Cleve plenty of new ones.

On the web at www.MountainHeart.com

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