The Virginia Ramblers: News

Here's the full review of our new cd from Bluegrass Unlimited, 11/06 issue...

THE VIRGINIA RAMBLERS
"The bandname Virginia Ramblers has enjoyed a long history in the Commonwealth. I recall hearing the original Virginia Ramblers, a string band, on WRVA Richmond, Va., in the early 1940s, and they'd been around a while then. Over the years, there's been several other Virginia Ramblers, notably the late Ted Prillaman's group from Martinsville, Va., but none are related to the current band.
The first dozen times I saw these fellows, they were banjoist Alvin Breeden's Virginia Cutups. They were a solid group then and remain so today. After Breeden retired, a name change seemed to be in order, so they became the Virginia Ramblers; an excellent choice, as they do the name justice.
Guitarist Charles Frazier carries most of the lead vocal work. To me, he's one of the finer singers around today. There's some switching of vocal parts with bassist Donnie Shifflett, and mandolin picker Jeff Vogelgesang—even banjoist Zack Deming takes a turn as lead singer. Whatever the combination, resulting harmonies are always tight and precise.
The Ramblers display a deep respect for the pioneer bluegrass groups, especially, it seems, for the Stanley Brothers. They revive two of Carter Stanley's songs including the littleknown "Let's Part The Best Of Friends." I'm not sure if their reading of "I Am Weary (Let Me Rest)" is a nod to the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? or was simply chosen because it's a good song. It turns out as one of the better numbers here, but if I have a favorite. It's their version of "The First Fall Of Snow."
The instrumental work of the Virginia Ramblers is flawless. However, when I review a record, the vocals come first. If bands don't pass muster there, it doesn't make any difference to me how well they pick. But happily it's not a problem on this set—these guys can sing bluegrass. Recommended. (Hay Holler Records, P.O. Box 868, Blacksburg, VA 24063, www.hayholler.com.)WVS
© Copyright 2006. Bluegrass Unlimited, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ramblers have completed a new cd for Hay Holler records, titled "Moving On". The cd should be available in March, 2006.

We've been working this spring on our new Virginia Ramblers Cd. We have a bunch of good new original material, and some chestnuts, including an acapella version of "Anchored in Love". Release date is October 1, 2005.

Greetings--the Virginia Ramblers are a newly formed traditional bluegrass band from Albemarle County, Virginia. Even though we're new, the group has a great deal of musical experience: three of us (Charles Frazier, guitar and lead singer, Donnie Shifflett, bass, and Jeff Vogelgesang, mandolin) were members for many years of another traditional band, the Virginia Cutups.
The Virginia Cutups performed traditional bluegrass music for nearly thirty years, at concerts including NPR's A Prairie Home Companion, at the Grass Valley Festival in California, the Jerseytown, Pa festival, Windgap, Brandywine Maryland, The Littleton, NC Butterwood Bluegrass Festival, Norman Adams' Mineral, Va festival, The Clinton, NJ Bluegrass Festival, the Old School House in Lucketts, Va, the Christopher Run festival in Louisa, Va among others.
The Virginia Cutups produced five cds for Fayette County Records of original and traditional tunes, which the Virginia Ramblers still have available: Originals, Bluegrass and Gospel Favorites, Yesterday Fifty Years Ago, From the Heart of Virginia, and Cherishing Memories. The Ramblers are expecting to issue their debut cd in May of 2005.
Charles, Donnie and Jeff are joined by Zack Deming, a Michigan native, on banjo. Zack moved to Virginia from the Santa Cruz, Ca area where he built guitars at the Santa Cruz Guitar company, moving three years ago to build Stelling banjos. In Virginia, Zack's fire and traditional leanings have led to stints with several bands, most notably King Wilkie.