Rhonda Vincent is a bluegrass prodigy who has been a favorite on the string band festival circuit for years. Her 1994 album for Giant Records found her being pushed a little too forcibly toward the country mainstream; still, on occasion, the specialness of her hard-country twang shined through. With
Trouble Free, she fulfills her promise with soaring beauty. Co-producer (and Giant Records chief)
James Stroud backs off and allows
Vincent to explore a traditional country terrain that encompasses the fierce, severe magnificence of bluegrass and the sorrowful whine of honky tonk heartbreak.
Vincent excels at both, showing the same kind of hard, soulful splendor that
Keith Whitley displayed when he evolved from bluegrass to traditional country.
Vincent's guests pretty much define her tastes: She performs a duet with
Randy Travis -- in his best performance in years -- and, elsewhere, enjoys harmony support from
Alison Krauss and
Dolly Parton.
Vincent and
Krauss have been linked for years (
Vincent was one a runner-up in a bluegrass contest that
Krauss won).
Krauss' commercial success certainly helped renew Giant's belief that
Vincent, too, could attract a larger mainstream audience. But the two aren't that similar as vocalists. Where
Krauss' voice is sweet and pure,
Vincent's is twangy and aggressive. What they share is a commitment to musical integrity. ~ Michael McCall