Alecia Nugent

Louisiana country/bluegrass singer Alecia Nugent knocks ’em dead with this debut CD on Rounder Records. Nugent’s brilliant voice is reminiscent of another outstanding roots vocalist, Rhonda Vincent, who just happens to sing harmony on three cuts on Alecia Nugent. Nugent’s band is stellar: producer Carl Jackson on guitar, banjo and harmony vocals; Ben Isaacs on bass; Aubrey Haynie on fiddle; Ronnie McCoury on mandolin; and Randy Kohrs on Dobro. Kohrs’ Dobro playing here is some of the best I’ve ever heard—very tasteful and creative, and his unusual little I-#I (one chord to sharp-one chord) passing tone riff in “Jealous Heart” is both clever and catchy. Carter Stanley’s “Think of What You’ve Done” gets great justice done to it, with Haynie’s fiddling and Kohrs’ Dobro work providing wonderful touches. This is a most refreshing must-have.