If there was a roster of influential and innovative banjo players, Walter Hensley would be on it but, as bluegrass writer Jon Weisberger writes, Walt has been “criminally under-appreciated.” Bill Monroe biographer Richard D. Smith says, “Walter remains one of the underrated greats of the 5-string.” The punch, drive and inventiveness of Walt’s banjo playing is joined here by the hard-charging rhythm guitar and soulful singing of James Reams, whose vocals were described by Banjo Newsletter as sounding “as smoky as his heroes.” Along with the Barons of Bluegrass, they have created an album that captures the raw excitement of the early days of bluegrass.