Stacy York “Kentucky in the Rain” (Blue Circle Records)

I’d never heard Stacy York sing until a promotional copy of her new CD, “Kentucky in the Rain,” came across my desk. I confess, my first glimpse of the CD told me it was one to put on the back burner, something I’d get to on a rainy day in Illinois. It just had that semi-pro look — not a lot of splashy, eye-catching graphics on the cover and, hmmm, room enough on the back page of the insert to promote a car dealership, a photographer and a Holiday Inn Express.

Well, I didn’t wait. I gave it a good listen a couple days after receiving the CD, which is on Tom T. and Miss Dixie Hall’s Blue Circle Records label. I’ve been listening for several days now and my conclusion: Forget the rains and the clouds, this gal shines when she sings.

York has been associated for several years with Joe Isaacs & Mountain Bluegrass, so it’s no surprise that Isaacs and several members of his prominent musical family play supporting roles on several tracks. Needless to say, the Isaacs know how to embellish a good thing.

York has one of those strong, pure voices that’s crystal clear and well suited for the material she chose for “Kentucky in the Rain.” It glistens right out of the starting gate, on the first track, the title cut, which was written by the Halls. Tom T. even makes an appearance on the cut with some fine bluegrass rhythm guitar playing that has all the bass runs tucked in all the right places. In fact, before I even knew it was Hall playing guitar, my ears perked up at the production on the song, which gives the rhythm guitar an unusual prominence in the mix.

York tackles some standards on this CD with gusto. Notable are Bill Monroe’s “Can’t You Hear Me Calling,” and Carter Stanley’s “I’ll Just Go Away.” The Halls have another delightful tune on the track list, a swing-style ditty called, “I Don’t See What I Once Saw in You.” York also gives special treatment to the country classic-sounding, “Where the Roses Never Fade.”

Joe Isaacs brings his hard-driving banjo style on most of the cuts and also adds the harmony vocals on the bulk of the CD. He also steps up to sing lead on an Onie Wheeler tune that’s become a bluegrass gospel standard, “Go Home.”

Others handling instrumental chores are Rebecca Isaacs Bowman on rhythm guitar, Curnie Lee Wilson on lead guitar, Jesse Stockman on fiddle and Sonya Isaacs on mandolin.

Co-production credits go to York and Joe Isaacs.

“Kentucky in the Rain” veers little off the beaten path of traditional bluegrass. But York’s pleasant voice is strong enough to hold the attention of bluegrassers, newgrassers and even fans of classic country.

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