Although bluegrass is among the styles that has informed her music over the years, one would not generally describe Laura Love as a bluegrass artist. Indeed, defining her style can be challenging. Yet the singer-songwriter and bassist who has previously referred to her own unique style as “folk-funk” or “Afro-Celtic,” and, okay, on occasion, “hip-Alachian,” claims bluegrass is “the only music I really listen to.”

Chatting in a New York Hilton hallway following a riveting and soulful showcase performance at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters annual members conference on Jan 21, Love said, “That acoustic, rootsy sound really moves me, along with Negro spirituals… I just gravitate to big and high-lonesome sounds, white and black.”

Love’s 10th album, slated for release in March, is entitled NeGrass, and represents her desire to “blend both of those styles together.” An acoustic collection of traditional and original field hollers, Negro spirituals and folk songs, NeGrass, on Love’s own Octoroon Biography label, features backing from a number of top bluegrass musicians.

“Tim and Mollie [O’Brien] have been my favorite singers for years,” Love acknowledges, noting what a thrill it was to have Tim join her on the forthcoming release. “Tim was just a dream in the studio,” she said. Also enhancing her soulful singing and funky bass licks on the forthcoming release are Barbara Lamb (who also produced the recording), Tracy Nelson, Jeff Autry, Scott Vestal, Rob Ickes, Mike Bub and Alice Vestal. – Michael Kornfeld