Russell Moore has been professionally active for more than a quarter of a century, not exactly making him an old-timer in the field, or rather hills, of Appalachian music. He has carefully balanced a career of picking guitar and mandolin with marvelous versatility as a vocalist. His credits confirm that for many recording artists he is considered enough of an asset in the latter field alone, meaning carrying instrument cases to a session is not always necessary for this Moore, if not every Russell Moore -- which is the cue to mention that the bluegrass and white gospel performer often associated with the Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver band should not be confused with the New Orleans jazz musician of the same name who was nicknamed "Big Chief" (that guy always carried a trombone case). Through the '80s, however, the singing Moore could certainly have been considered at the head of the powwow surrounding Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, considered cutting edge yet true to the genre's sacred traditions. Moore valiantly took on the lead vocal tasks in this group as well as the subsequent IIIrd Tyme Out, a spinoff combo of equal popularity formed in 1991. He has been nominated for several awards as a lead vocalist; bluegrass buffs also like the way Moore plays rhythm guitar, his strumming scintillating with subtle accents. ~ Eugene Chadbourne