Rounder Readies Ron Block’s 3rd Solo CD for Release

Ron Block (Alison Krauss and Union Station) has averaged half-a-dozen years between solo albums (Faraway Land  in 2001, followed by DoorWay in 2007) and now Walking Song in 2013.

Walking Song is set to be released on Rounder Records at the end of July but advance copies have already gone out to media and pre-orders from On-Line Retailers are available.

Ron Block has long ago secured his reputation as a deeply thoughtful and accomplished musician. After two decades as part of Alison Krauss band, Union Station, with whom he s earned a collection of Grammy®, IBMA, and Dove awards, as well as many years as a songwriter and sideman for the likes of Rhonda Vincent, Randy Travis, The Boxcars, The Cox Family, Dailey & Vincent, Dolly Parton, and Vince Gill, Block now presents his third solo album, Walking Song.

This collection of songs contains the richest range of sentiments that Block has ever taken up, from the ultimate longings of the soul to the joy and wonder of being alive. With assistance from new co-writer Rebecca Reynolds, Block moves skillfully across multiple genres of acoustic music, presenting his take on Scots-Irish balladry, Appalachian fiddle tunes, bluegrass romps, singer-songwriter narratives, and, for good measure, grooving newgrass. On Walking Song Block calls upon Union Station band mates, as well as Alison Krauss and an array of other top-notch musical guests, to complement his sparkling work.

“...Ron has composed and arranged his way across centuries of folk and popular lineage with his nuanced knowledge and modern ear, putting his playful spin on Celtic balladry, old-time romps, soul-searing Appalachian modal melodies, nimble folk tunes, tradition-steeped bluegrass, groove-driven newgrass and contemporary singer-songwriter fare. The music finds a perfect match in Rebecca’s elevated use of imagery and rhyme, her strikingly poetic, period-appropriate word choice and their shared interest in writing songs that speak to a rich range of human experience, the fun, fervent and contemplative moments alike.  As for Ron’s accompanists, they’re every bit the dream team you’d expect from a picker/singer/songwriter of his stature: Sam Bush, Mike Compton and Sierra Hull on mandolin, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Jerry Douglas and Rob Ickes on Dobro, Barry on bass and no less than Alison, Dan Tyminski, Kate Rusby and Suzanne Cox singing harmony. . .”  Album Liner Notes by Jewly Hight