Texas Serenade

WFM4368

It's so nice to see a family band playing together and even more so when they play my favourite music 'Western Swing'. The Wallace Family consists of 15-year-old lead vocalist Brook who is also a very competent fiddle player, 13 year old Sally Ann plays a host of instruments including fiddle, mandolin, guitar, 5-string banjo, steel guitar (non-pedal of course) and just about anything that you can tie a string to….phew, some doing!!! Bethany is 11 years, sings, yodels, plays tenor guitar and fiddle….she says that she likes those yodelling cowboys songs. 11-year-old Caleb (do we have twins here?) plays fiddle and bass and loves to sing Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and Bob Wills numbers. Madalyn (Maddie Belle) is 8 and I'm told looks as cute as a new born chick in her Dale Evans outfit, but can also sing, yodel and play the fiddle. Dad…Paul keeps the whole band together playing rhythm guitar and mom…Chritsty sings a little, but is usually more occupied with younger members of the family.

Recently releasing this 15 track album, the family live and play around the Fort Worth area of Texas performing their own blend of Texas old-time fiddling, western swing, cowboy, gospel music and may even drop in the odd bluegrass number. Here the band are joined by drummer Nathan Coates and Chris Booher on piano who also produced the album with Brook Wallace.

Texas Serenade is a charmer that delights the senses from a great team who easily weave their magic spell. A fine selection of numbers are found on Texas Serenade opening with Brook firing up the fiddle on the title track working overtime on this traditional number. Soak up the music and wallow in champagne as the steel guitar and fiddle combine in sweet conversation with the likes of "Roly Poly", setting the tone for this fast paced album that will soon have you two-steppin' round the lounge. Numbers such as "You Are My Sunshine" a swinging version of the hymn "Jesus Loves Me", "Twelve Street Rag" and "Time Changes Everything" continue. The younger siblings offer vocals a little fresh that experience will develop more fully and Sally Anne shows her playing expertise on her 50's Fender steel guitar with Leon McAuliffe's classic "Steel Guitar Rag". Twin fiddles offer a fine interpretation of the traditional "Wayfaring Stranger" and the whole thing is brought to its conclusion with a sparkling fiddle version of "Star Spangled Banner".

Undeniably refreshing to hear music of this high quality coming from such young people. With age on their side the music can only get even better. Texas Serenade is an album full of acoustic music that electrifies and pours freely, so if you like to kick sawdust and swing try a little Texas Serenade!!!

www.wallacefiddlers.com