Cornerstone

A group of five musicians with musical roots in Florida, Virginia, Texas, and upstate New York can add up to only one thing: a bluegrass band with a solid folk base that plays stunning original material. That's what Cornerstone, based near Ithaca, New York, is all about. Led by banjo player-songwriter Chris Stuart (Florida), Cornerstone is made up of vocalist-fiddler Dee Specker (New York), mandolinist-fiddler Rick Manning (Texas), bassist Dana Paul (Virginia), and virtuoso guitarist Tim Wallbridge (New York). This fusion of musicians from old-timey and bluegrass traditions makes for a special sound, one that features twin fiddles on some cuts, cajun accordion on others, Irish harp, and even the traditional five-piece bluegrass band lineup. The vocals are stunning, the feelings real, and the instrumental backup exactly right for each tune.