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Tim Jones' review from the Co-Mando email discusstion list:

A number of folks on this listserve have mentioned Roland White and Diane Bouska's mandolin instructional book/CD set, Roland White's Approach to Bluegrass Mandolin. I take lessons from Roland and have found in the book tasteful plenty of arrangements of old time and bluegrass songs.

Now Diane and Roland have come out with a songbook/instructional book/CD set for Christmas. It contains ten Christmas carols and songs (from We Wish You a Merry Christmas to Jingle Bells to What Child Is This). I think a number of co-mandos might find it helpful.

This new book, Roland White's Mandolin Christmas, has the added advantage of notation AND tab (their first book had only tab). Diane has put the book together and plays guitar on the accompanying CD, while Roland adds a wonderful mando touch, showing how songs such as Away in a Manger or Joy to the World can be done with bluegrass, old-time sensibility. (It really sounds good!) In some ways this book more intentionally targets beginners, in that the solo tabs come with both simpler, as well as more complicated levels for arrangements. The book also has a songbook section with lyrics and mandolin (and guitar) chord diagrams. Here again are options, from easy two-finger open mando chords to closed position chords. The more complicated "step up" versions of tabbed and notation solos have double stops and slides with Roland's wonderful style.

A nice feature of the CD is Roland giving mini-lessons on tremolo and other techniques (and telling a funny Christmas story about one of his early encounters with Bill Monroe.) While a good portion of the intended audience for the book and CD will be beginners or intermediates, Diane believes advanced players can benefit by hearing how a master adds subtleties and a great feel to these old standards. I'm not even close to being an advanced player, so can't personally vouch for that one!

No financial benefit from sales for me-but I think Roland is a great teacher and when I heard about this project and saw a review copy I wanted to write a mini-review for other listees. The 44-page book/CD can be found on Roland and Diane's web site (www.rolandwhite.com).

Tim Jones