Imagine yourself in West Virginia in a Kanawha (pronounced can-naw) County cabin enjoying the picking and singing of two National Flatpicking champs. Robin Kessinger won the championship in 1985, and Tyler Grant claimed the honor in 2008. Because of their age difference, Robin is Tyler’s flatpicking "Pa," and Tyler is Robin's flatpicking "Son.” The two music friends have only known each other since 2005, but they’ve clearly developed much respect for each other and are like family. The duo had some existing arrangements, and I suspect those are the pieces where Robin and Tyler play lead and harmony together (Soldier’s Joy, Blue Water Hornpipe). According to the liner notes, most of the program was worked up the evening before tracking and features long-time Kessinger family songs and tunes learned from Robin’s Great Uncle Clark, and his Dad, Bob. These include tunes like “Wednesday Night Waltz” and “Garfield’s March.”  

Besides old-timey tunes like “Susannah Gal,” the duo gives a nod to Celtic repertoire (“Rights of Man”) and bluegrass material with Bill Monroe’s “Farewell to Long Hollow” and Reno and Smiley’s “A Dime Looks Like A Wagon Wheel.” We also hear tunes from Irving Berlin (“Russian Lullaby”) and Jimmie Rodgers (“No Hard Times”). While mainly pickers, it’s nice to hear both guys singing together on “My Blue Ridge Mountain Home.” Originally recorded by Vernon Dalhart & Carson Robison in 1927, this was the theme song for Bob Kessinger's band, The Mountaineers. The program closes with an a cappella version of “A Song! A Beautiful Song!” It had been sung at Bob Kessinger's Funeral Service in 2004. Albums like this show that family ties run deep, and the music is a perpetuation of tradition. For those interested in such things, Robin plays a Bob Thompson Cutaway Dreadnought, and Tyler plays a 1953 Martin D-28. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)