There are a lot of fantastic young fiddlers performing and recording today -- so good that it's hard to imagine what heights of excellence they'll achieve over the next generation. It's a trend I'll go out of my way to encourage and support.

Unfortunately, the bar has not been raised by Regina Kate, an 18-year-old Michigan-based fiddler with good intentions but little polish. This Fiddle, her debut release, shows a musician who still needs to hone her skills before recording again.

This collection of mostly traditional Celtic fiddling, supported by Ken Case on guitar and bouzouki, is a starting point -- but her intonation is far too sloppy and the arrangements are much too bland to make interesting listening. With some practice and a little luck, she'll look back at this album in a few years and ask, "What was I thinking?"

Here's to a better sophomore effort. I hope next time she blows me away with improvement.

by Tom Knapp
Rambles.NET
26 November 2005