Hugs and Misses by Stephen Hug   “The Best Kept Secret” by Jerry Douglas (Koch Records)—If you get this CD, you must promise you won’t put it on as background music.  That’s the temptation with recordings by instrumentalists.  Jerry ain’t no “Kenny G”—he is an acclaimed master of the dobro and deserves to be heard!  You might not know his name (hence the CD’s title), but no doubt you’ve heard his work—which includes the “O Brother, Where Art Thou” soundtrack, and recordings as a member of Alison Krauss & Union Station.  He’s won a bunch of Grammys as well as honors from the likes of the Americana Music Association.  This guy is no slouch.  And neither is “The Best Kept Secret.”  It’s bluegrassy, jazzy and rockin’—with a dash of crowd-pleasing pop, as pop-star-in-waiting Alison Krauss does the vocal honors on a tune called “Back In Love Again.”  Others featured either vocally or in another capacity include Creedence Clearwater Revival’s John Fogarty, banjoist Bela Fleck and Allman Brother Derek Trucks.  A couple years back Jerry played the venue I volunteer at, the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, MA, and was terrific and was even financially generous to the Narrows (a non-profit organization).  So perhaps I’m biased.  But I believe I can write without fear of contradiction that this one gets and deserves 4 big bottle caps, our highest score.  Let’s have Jerry Douglas go from being the “best kept” to the “worst kept” secret.  And one more thing: if you get the CD, please crank it up!  Purchase "The Best Kep Secret" on Amazon.com   “In the Cool” by Pieta Brown (Valley Entertainment)—A few years back I saw Pieta open for her father Greg Brown and was totally under-impressed.  Times change.  “In The Cool” is a solid, sultry album, recorded live in the studio, with quality, mostly low-key songs, all written by Pieta.  She’s got a Lucinda Williams thing going on, not surprising since Bo Ramsey, who co-produced the CD with her, has worked with Lucinda. (Also, Lucinda kinda has THE sound these days in Americana.)  Lyrics from the CD that made me chuckle: “These days I turn the radio on, it’s just one clear channel playing the same songs.”  That’s from “Lonesome Songs,” and, if you don’t understand the reference, it’s a swipe at Clear Channel, a huge media conglomerate which has been working to improve its not-so-nice image over the past couple years (I know firsthand—I work a shift at a Clear Channel radio station in Providence, RI).  Looks like Clear Channel still has work to do, a least for Pieta! 3 ¼ bottle caps.  A pretty good effort.  I hope next time she mixes in some energetic tunes.  Purchase "In The Cool" on Amazon.com