Kenny Vaughan: V

It’s usually an “uh oh” when a sideman steps up to the mic, but Kenny Vaughan of Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives is not your usual sideman. He nurtured his super-pickin’ style with countless gigs on Nashville’s Lower Broadway, played with a ton of top artists and is considered one of Music City’s A-list studio guys when it comes to delivering real twang. So it’s no surprise when Vaughan’s solo endeavor captures everything good about the man. In addition to being a hot picker, Vaughan is a fine tunesmith, and V takes the listener to a number of familiar places. The nostalgic feel of “Hot Like That” and “Country Music Got a Hold On Me” takes you back to BR549’s glory days, and the rediscovery of classic country music. But Vaughan also showcases the dark lounge style with the smoky instrumental “Mysterium.” Backed by Stuart and His Superlatives, Vaughan has brought his A-game to V. (4 out of 5 stars)