Press

Bluegrass Unlimited: "a well conceived, nicely executed release - Highly recommended."
Greg Blake, the fine lead singer and guitarist with Jeff Scroggins & Colorado and a West Virginia transplant, has released his first solo effort, and the results are very impressive. He’s joined by a top-flight lineup of supporting musicians including Scroggins on banjo, John Reischman on mandolin, Sally Van Meter on resonator guitar, Mark Schatz on bass, Blaine Sprouse on fiddle, and Claire Lynch, Laurie Lewis, KC Groves, and Jeff Brown on occasional vocals.

With an excellent cast of supporting musicians, Blake’s choice of material is equally strong. Included here are Laurie Lewis’ “Hills Of My Home” with Lewis on harmony vocals, Carter Stanley’s “Sweetest Love,” a rousing version of “Home Is Where The Heart Is,” and Monroe’s “Thinking About You.” There are two fine Johnny Cash songs: “Hey Porter,” which Blake sings like he wrote it and also features some particularly nice banjo work by Scroggins, and a very effective sweet version of “I Still Miss Someone,” with harmony by Van Meter and KC Groves that blends nicely with Blake’s powerful lead singing. “Cruisin’ Timber,” an instrumental from David and Dorsey Harvey, showcases Blake’s lead guitar work and more creative banjo work by Scroggins. “Fifty Miles From Nowhere” is a well-crafted original from Blake and Lyla Carder. Ian Tyson’s “Summer Wages” receives as nice a treatment as any you will find anywhere, with some very tasteful resonator work by Van Meter. “Home” features strong high harmony work by Claire Lynch.

As well done as all those are (and they are), the highlights of this release have to be “Turn Your Heart Toward Home” by Steve and Annie Chapman and Brumley’s “Dreaming Of A Little Cabin,” if on nothing more than the strength of Blake’s soulful singing and Claire Lynch’s vocal contributions—very, very nice. This is a well conceived, nicely executed release with top-flight songs and excellent vocals and instrumental work. Highly recommended.
-- Bluegrass Unlimited, March 2016

"Songs of Heart and Home is one of the better traditional bluegrass albums of 2015."
“As lead vocalist for Jeff Scroggins & Colorado, West Virginia native Greg Blake adds a healthy portion of mountain soul to that progressive bluegrass group’s sound. He quickly shows why many regard him as a first-rate traditional bluegrass singer by kicking off the 13-track, 44-minute Songs of Heart and Home, his debut solo album, with a stout take on the Stanley Brothers’ “Sweetest Love.” Solid picking from a band that includes John Reischman (mandolin), Blaine Sprouse (fiddle), and Sally Van Meter (Dobro) and Blake’s tinge of mountaineer twang tie together well-chosen songs into a thematic whole, bringing the bluegrass treatment to songs from Johnny Cash (a propulsive “Hey Porter” and a plaintive “I Still Miss Someone”), Ian Tyson (“Summer Wages”), and Joe Diffie (“Home”). Featuring guest vocal turns from Laurie Lewis and Claire Lynch, Greg Blake’s Songs of Heart and Home is one of the better traditional bluegrass albums of 2015.”
-- Aaron Keith Harris, The Lonesome Road Review (Jan 18, 2016)

Acoustic Guitar mag praises Blake's singing & flatpicking skills
“Greg Blake isn’t kidding when he calls his debut solo album Songs of Heart and Home. Of 13 songs, over half have “home” in their title. Guitarist and singer Blake, who fronts progressive bluegrass combo Jeff Scroggins and Colorado, returns to his Appalachian roots with this collection. Blake’s rich, grainy baritone, harkening to the hollers of his West Virginia home, goes from bluff and hearty to forlorn in a pinch, making potentially cloying sentiments about hearth and family ring true. His flat-picking skills are not neglected. On “Cruising Timber,” Blake’s labyrinthine picking rockets up a winding mounting road and barrels down the other side, colliding with chugging banjo, sawing fiddle and trilling mandolin, all of which flow like tributaries to a stream. On his duet with Laurie Lewis on her own “The Hills of My Home,” Blake’s guitar spirals down the tune’s jaunty switchbacks before bubbling up like a mountain spring. (See the rest of the article in Acoustic ”
-- Pat Moran, Acoustic Guitar, #278 - Feb., 2016

"Grade-A meat-and-potatoes modern bluegrass"
“This is a very fine album by West Virginia native and current Colorado-by-way-of-Kansas transplant Greg Blake, who has been a regional star for many years and has won the SPBGMA’s Guitarist of the Year and the Kansas State Flatpicking championship multiple times. On this project, however, he modestly keeps the guitar pyrotechnics to a minimum in favor of songs, which he sings in an attractive baritone voice and which he gathers from such obvious sources as Bill Monroe, Carter Stanley, and Johnny Cash and from as far afield as Bill Staines and Ian Tyson. He’s accompanied by an all-star cast that includes Claire Lynch, Blaine Sprouse, and hotshot banjo picker Jeff Scroggins. If you’re looking for Grade-A meat-and-potatoes modern bluegrass, this disc is for you.”
-- Rick Anderson, CD HotList (Dec 07, 2015)

"I'm a serious fan of Greg and his music!" -- Si Kahn
“Greg Blake is the real thing. He was born and grew up in West Virginia, in the heart of bluegrass tradition. There are many great bluegrass musicians from places like California and Massachusetts, and I wouldn’t ever want to take anything way from them. But there is just something special about artists like Greg who grew up surrounded by traditional mountain and bluegrass music, from that state that gave us such amazing bluegrass and country artists as Hazel Dickens, Tim O’Brien and Kathy Mattea. Greg not only has a wonderful voice, he knows how to put a song across with passion and heart, and with that special high lonesome edge and energy that marks all of the great bluegrass lead vocalists. He has compelling stage presence and charisma—and he’s a really nice guy. I’m a serious fan of Greg and his music!”

#1 Bluegrass Album on the Roots Music Report (Sept. 29, 2015)!!!
Top 50 Bluegrass Albums for the week of Sept. 29
#1 - "Songs of Heart & Home"; Greg Blake

Michael Kornfeld, AcousticMusicScene.com
"Joy of Living: A Tribute to Ewan MacColl" was the most-played album on folk radio during September 2015, closely followed by "Songs of Heart and Home" by Greg Blake — who was also the month’s most-played artist.

David Kidman, FATEA Magazine (Oct., 2015)
“Greg grew up in the mountains of southwest West Virginia, and the rich twang of his singing voice quickly betrays his connection to earlier generations of mountain singers ... he returns to his Appalachian roots for his debut solo album, informing those roots with the sensibilities of modern bluegrass. For this project, he’s gathered around him a host of excellent bluegrass stars ... But in spite of these noteworthy guest contributions, it’s still Greg’s voice that rings out true on this apt choice of songs in well-crafted settings that give the very best of no-frills revival bluegrass: supremely controlled, easy-going, easy-flowing and unassumingly virtuosic.”

Jan Dale, "Southern Style", on Tuesdays (PBS FM-106.7, Australia)
“I was sitting at home reviewing a number of CDs sent in to me for airplay on my show at PBSFM. Most were "ho hum" until I came to yours which had me sitting up in rapt attention! It really is a great album. Your singing is outstanding and, of course, you have some great musicians accompanying you. Excellent choice of songs and arrangements and top recording values. I can't wait to share it with my listeners.”

Liz Austin (review in "For the Country Record"; 10.08.2015)
“I have to say, this is one of the best new bluegrass records I’ve heard this year (and believe me, I’ve listened to a great deal of bluegrass). This is bluegrass in its pure, simple, and best form. Bluegrass lovers will love this album! Check it out!”

Len Robinson, WTUF Radio - wtufradio.com
“I have been hosting a live Bluegrass show on WTUF in Thomasville, GA for the past 20 years ... I received a copy of Songs of Heart & Home this past week and want you to know how much I appreciate the efforts you have put forth on this cd -- true ... real heartfelt bluegrass! Your take on DREAMING OF A LITTLE CABIN is among the best I have ever heard! When I introduced the song on Saturday, I said, "people often ask me why I love Bluegrass music so much ... well, here's why ... just listen to this!" About 15 minutes after I played it, I got a call from Valdosta, GA. A gentleman was in tears as he told me how much that song had moved him!”

iTunes reviews
“This is classic Blake. He ... has brought all his influences and experiences to bear on a project that is musical genius. There's not a bad tune on entire release. Highly recommended”

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from Greg Cahill (Special Consensus)
"I have heard the tracks for Greg's forthcoming recording and it more than peaked my interest in hearing the finished product - I have to hear it when completed! Greg's performance is just great - his singing and playing is spot on and I know his fans will be delighted to hear this new release."

Hearth Music via NoDepression
W. Virginia singer Greg Blake's soaring tenor cut through the dirty brick walls of The Pour House (an official IBMA showcase venue) in Raleigh. (He) has a new solo album coming out which I got a sneak peek of and it’s just beautiful. Powerful Appalachian vocals and masterful bluegrass combine in his music and I can’t wait for it to be out officially.

The Steam Powered Preservation Society
“Blake’s vocals ring loud and clear, and he must be on my top list of bluegrass singers.”
- Gina Andreucci, The Steam Powered Preservation Society Blog (Feb 20, 2014)

Flatpicking Guitar Magazine
“Greg’s guitar solos are tasteful and fit the feel of the song. When the tune is fast, furious, and complex, he is able to provide a solo that fits the feel and groove of the tune. When the tune is simple and the melody sparse, he provides a solo that is congruent with the tune. While many guitar players that I hear in bluegrass seem to want to try to fill every solo with complexity and flash, Greg is content in laying back and simplifying when the song calls for it. To me, this is the mark of a great player. His solos don’t scream, “Hey, look at me!” His solos appropriately support the band and the song.”
- Dan Miller, Flatpicking Guitar Magazine (Jan 07, 2013)