Ruby's Begonia

Ruby's Begonia

You never know where past Winfield champions will turn up. Rick Bentley, 1980 National Banjo Champion, has shown up as part of the trio Ruby's Begonia. Bentley's banjo is prominent on the group's cheerful self-titled CD. It bounces through a solo on the old nugget "Dream a Little Dream" and slinks through the original instrumental "Tobasco Kat." A generation younger than Rick is Levi Dennis, who holds the 1995 Young Adult Fiddle Champion title. Levi sweetens the melancholy standard "Scotch & Soda" with lazy, wistful fiddle lines and shows some wicked chops on "Shine." He also steps into some big shoes, playing Mark O'Connor's stirring "Song of the Liberty Bell." The glue that holds the two hot pickers together is Terry Bentley, who supplies a sultry voice and steady bass playing. As a group, Ruby's Begonia picks a lot of songs that are both challenging and familiar. "Mack the Knife," "Fly Me to the Moon" and Edith Piaf's "If You Love Me" are refreshing choices. The CD is capped by a great Rick Bentley showpiece, the all-too-brief rag "Dauphine Monkey."

In the Walnut Valley Festival list of artists: