J.T. Gray may be best known as the hard-working owner of Nashville's renowned Station Inn. He has recorded and toured with the likes of Jimmy Martin, Vassar Clements, Sullivan Family, Tom T. Hall, Boys from Shiloh and his own Misty Mountain Boys (who were featured in the Robert Altman movie called "Nashville.") J.T.'s contributions to bluegrass earned him an IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award in 2003. "It's About Time" is a CD that is definitely long overdue as a showcase of J.T. Gray's expressive singing and rock-solid rhythm guitar playing. His tenor voice and the harmonies soar in a classic way that recall bluegrass and country music's bygone days of yesteryear. 

If one is going to cover these great song classics, one must have a strategy in place to do them as well, if not better, than the originals. Besides emphasizing classic harmonies, this treasure chest of bluegrass includes some stellar talent -- Bobby Nicholas, Terry Eldredge, David Talbot, Shad Cobb, Josh Ulbrich, and Andy Hall. J.D. Blair adds brushes to a few cuts, and engineer Kurt Storey plays second fiddle on "Send Me The Pillow." Gray, Nichols and Eldredge all sing lead and harmony vocals, and it would've been nice if the CD jacket had listed who was singing the parts on each song. It's a very pleasant trip down nostalgia lane.

J.T. admits, "We're not breaking any ground with this one, we're just giving the fans exactly what they wanted." That's a modest statement from the man who was born in Mississippi, worked in Chicago, and has called Nashville home for many years. In reality, songs like "You're Running Wild," "Truck Driver's Queen," and "I Told the Stars About You" capture a very special place in our hearts, and they are a nostalgic collection of bluegrass days of yore. The 40-minute CD also includes three live tracks from the Station Inn - "Mind Your Own Business," "Love Me Darling Just Tonight," and "My Baby's Gone." Other songs on the project include "Are You Missing Me?," "Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On," "Give This Message To Your Heart," "Where The Soul of Man Never Dies," "Please Search Your Heart" and "Footprints in the Snow." J.T.'s music isn't dated; it's just classic. (Joe Ross)