Mark Newton
From his haunting, sparse arrangement of Pretty Polly, accompanied only by Mark Johnson on banjo, to the rousing Midnight Rider, which re-unites the Virginia Squires, Mark proves himself to be adaptable to many different styles. He is equally at ease with Grammy nominee and bluegrass pioneer Ralph Stanley, who joins him on Sugar Coated Love and I’ve Just Seen the Rock of Ages, as he is with the soulful renderings of the Shiloh New Site Choir, who lend their collective voice to the classic Amazing Grace. In the end, Mark Newton’s "dream" is a real treat for bluegrass/acoustic fans, and stands as a tremendous first solo effort from one of the pioneers of contemporary bluegrass music.
From his haunting, sparse arrangement of Pretty Polly, accompanied only by Mark Johnson on banjo, to the rousing Midnight Rider, which re-unites the Virginia Squires, Mark proves himself to be adaptable to many different styles. He is equally at ease with Grammy nominee and bluegrass pioneer Ralph Stanley, who joins him on Sugar Coated Love and I’ve Just Seen the Rock of Ages, as he is with the soulful renderings of the Shiloh New Site Choir, who lend their collective voice to the classic Amazing Grace. In the end, Mark Newton’s "dream" is a real treat for bluegrass/acoustic fans, and stands as a tremendous first solo effort from one of the pioneers of contemporary bluegrass music.