After Alison Krauss recorded her album with Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, the two decided to embark on a national tour. While that was good news to many, it also left her regular band, Union Station, on hiatus for a while. That also became good news when Dan Tyminksi announced he would be assembling a band of his own to record his new CD, his first since 2000’s Carry Me Across The Mountain.

Tyminski, perhaps better known to those outside of bluegrass as George Clooney’s singing voice in the movie O Brother! Where Art Thou, didn’t have to look far to assemble as top-notch group to play with. First he turned around and recruited Barry Bales of Union Station to play bass. Next he called on old friend and Union Station alum, mandolin player Adam Steffey. Rounding out the crew with the skilled and much in demand session player Ron Stewart on banjo and newcomer Justin Moses on fiddle, the “Dan Band” was ready to roll.

Wheels features twelve songs that showcase some of the best in modern bluegrass songwriting as well as some classic gems. The catchy title track, written by Patrick McDougal from the great new band High Windy, starts things with a catchy bang putting the solid vocal trio of Tyminski, Bales and Moses up front. The group dips into history for a few songs like Kitty Wells’ “Whose Shoulder Will You Cry On” and the Harold Tipton song made famous by Del McCoury, “Who Showed Who.”

Union Station banjoist Ron Block contributes two uplifting songs to the album, “It All Comes Down To You” and “The One You Lean On” while Stewart pitches in with “I Ain’t Taking You Back No More.” Speaking of band contributions, Adam Steffey throws in the instrumental “Knock Knock!” which gives each member a time to show their skill.

With an album of great songs and a live show full of humor and great pickin’, let’s hope it isn’t another eight years before we hear from the Dan Band again.

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