I
Know This Road, Roger
Williams' long-awaited solo album, is an eclectic collection of instrumental
and vocal works, some of which he has composed and some which have
caught his ear over the 40-plus years he has been navigating the music
business. The instrumental numbers range from the jaunty Josh Graves'
(Pretty Little) Rainbow, to an ethereal rendition of Ave Maria with
banjo and bowed bass, to the sprightly Benny Goodman tune Slipped
Disc. Although better known as an instrumentalist, Roger applies his
rich baritone to vocal renditions of songs from songwriters such as
Don Henley, Graham Nash, Gordon Lightfoot and himself. Most of the
tunes are enhanced by the legendary Canadian fiddler Ray Legere, Roger's
longtime musical collaborator, along with Roger's son JD Williams,
an innovative and superb mandolinist in his own right. Also in the
mix are bassist Bob Dick, formerly of the award-winning bluegrass
group Front Range, and his brother Dave Dick, formerly of Salamander
Crossing, Southern Rail and Northern Lights. Roger's longtime musical
partner Amy Gallatin joins him on a few vocal efforts, most notably
Vince Gill's ode to long time love, Look at Us. This album represents
the hard-won experiences--the joys and the sorrows--inherent in a
lifetime of living life on the road and performing worldwide.
Roger started
playing the resophonic, Dobro style guitar in 1963, when he was just
a young teenager. Within the first year, he had already debuted with
The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover at the Hillbilly Ranch in Boston.
where they had performed for nearly two decades. Since then he has
gone on to perform and/or record with many well respected bluegrass
and folk acts on the national and international circuit, including
Don Stover, White Mountain Bluegrass, Hazel Dickens, Joe Val, Bill
Harrell, Delia Bell and Bill Grant, Southern Rail, Ray Legere, Mark
Schatz, Wyatt Rice, Mac Wiseman, The New England Bluegrass Band, Salamander
Crossing, Slavek Hanzlik, Mark Erelli, Hiro Arita and others. Career
highlights include thirteen overseas tours with various artists, including
a performance at the acclaimed Dobrofest in Slovakia, and teaching
workshops during Bluegrass Week at the Augusta Heritage Center in
Elkins, WV. He currently does extensive studio work and performs with
Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters and The Hot Flashes.
Read Bluegrass
Today's review here
Read
Bluegrass Unlimited's review here
