Bluegrass & Old Time Music

Started by Old San Antone, April 28, 2020, 06:15:16 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Old San Antone

As promised, a thread celebrating Bluegrass and Old Time Music in all its forms.  On another thread a discussion emerged about acoustic guitar playing, flatpicking as it is known among Bluegrass musicians.  Here's a few clips, some veterans and some young players carrying on the flatpicking tradition.

Dan Crary

https://www.youtube.com/v/XOuXBAfi_qY

Molly Tuttle

https://www.youtube.com/v/Xvo-4x3y9aU

Norman Blake

https://www.youtube.com/v/UEkVkJax2Co

Bryan Sutton

https://www.youtube.com/v/dy_F6V_aADc

Billy Strings

https://www.youtube.com/v/mW8Yq7iPoJk

Any other Bluegrass fans out there?

8)

Karl Henning

I've very much enjoyed Bela Fleck's Tales From the Acoustic Planet CDs
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Old San Antone

Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on April 28, 2020, 06:32:50 AM
I've very much enjoyed Bela Fleck's Tales From the Acoustic Planet CDs

Bela Fleck has also done some really good things with Abigail Washburn, another banjoist who stretches out on the instrument.  Then there's Chris Thile with The Punch Brothers and  The Goat Rodeo Sessions with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, bassist Edgar Meyer and fiddle player Stuart Duncan.

There's a whole new generation of bluegrass and old time players who honor the tradition while bringing in the taste of other genres.  Now is a great time for this music.

Gurn Blanston

Count me in among bluegrass fans. As for flatpicking, I'm big on Doc Watson. I have a couple of youtubes saved out that I'll post later, he can really get down with it. :)

8)
Visit my Haydn blog: HaydnSeek

Haydn: that genius of vulgar music who induces an inordinate thirst for beer - Mily Balakirev (1860)

Old San Antone

Quote from: Gurn Blanston on April 28, 2020, 07:15:02 AM
Count me in among bluegrass fans. As for flatpicking, I'm big on Doc Watson. I have a couple of youtubes saved out that I'll post later, he can really get down with it. :)

8)

I was hoping someone would post some Doc Watson.  A master on both guitar and banjo. 

Old San Antone

Peter Rowan and Tony Rice performed with a quartet throughout the 2000s and 2010s.  They were usually joined on string bass by Bryn Davies and mandolinist Sharon Gilchrist.

Dust Bowl Children

https://www.youtube.com/v/wZ07N-m2TFw

j winter

My general listening tends to run more blues than bluegrass, but I've liked most of what I've heard.  My best friend growing up is now in a bluegrass band that sometimes plays in these parts, so I've heard a decent amount of it live, not as much from recordings other than Alison Kraus & Union Station and a few other things.  I'll be watching for recommendations... :)
The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus.
Let no such man be trusted.

-- William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

Karl Henning

Quote from: Old San Antone on April 28, 2020, 07:28:27 AM
I was hoping someone would post some Doc Watson.  A master on both guitar and banjo. 

Yes!
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Gurn Blanston

This is a Smithsonian video he made, I started it at 3:30 where he actually gets into playing it, but before then he talks about how he learned it and such, which is interesting too if you crank it back. I used to play that style of guitar: I warn't no Doc Watson though!   :D

https://youtu.be/cE2swkx9WXE?t=210

8)
Visit my Haydn blog: HaydnSeek

Haydn: that genius of vulgar music who induces an inordinate thirst for beer - Mily Balakirev (1860)

Old San Antone

#9
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on April 28, 2020, 08:21:56 AM
This is a Smithsonian video he made, I started it at 3:30 where he actually gets into playing it, but before then he talks about how he learned it and such, which is interesting too if you crank it back. I used to play that style of guitar: I warn't no Doc Watson though!   :D

https://youtu.be/cE2swkx9WXE?t=210

8)

I can't play your video clip but found it on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/v/cE2swkx9WXE

The URL you used is not how I usually see for a YT clip.  ??

Nice playing!  This other one came up when I found the doc clip - Tommy Emmanuel and Jason Isbell singing Deep River Blues

https://www.youtube.com/v/YcbxsG3OWfA

Really nice singing and playing in great sound.

Gurn Blanston

Quote from: Old San Antone on April 28, 2020, 09:17:08 AM
I can't play your video clip but found it on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/v/cE2swkx9WXE

The URL you used is not how I usually see for a YT clip.  ??

Nice playing!

It might fit better with your 'Acoustic Blues' thread, although that started after. I don't see youtube videos here, so I don't know whether mine posted right or not. Chrome & Flash are not friendly! :'(

8)
Visit my Haydn blog: HaydnSeek

Haydn: that genius of vulgar music who induces an inordinate thirst for beer - Mily Balakirev (1860)

Old San Antone

This is a very well produced recreation of the songs recorded in what Johnny Cash called the "Big Bang of Country Music", i.e. the 1927 Bristol Sessions conducted by Ralph Peer.



Orthophonic Joy: The 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited is a double-CD produced by Grammy Award-winner Carl Jackson, a Bluegrass and country music artist, as a benefit for the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, Tennessee. The project was conceived by executive producer Rusty Morrell, a Bristol native who was well acquainted with the story of the historic 1927 Bristol Sessions and imagined a modern tribute to the sessions that have been dubbed the 'big bang' of country music. The project includes 37 tracks - 18 songs and 19 spoken word tracks that provide context. WSM disc jockey and country music historian Eddie Stubbs narrates the project, and a who's who of country artists recorded the new versions of the old classics. Jackson recorded the album between 2013 and 2015. It was released by Sony Legacy Recordings on May 12, 2015.

The purpose of the 1927 sessions was to record new talent for a public that was buying the new Orthophonic Victrola in record numbers. It launched the recording careers of Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family. Ernest Stoneman, already a popular recording artist, convinced Victor executive Ralph Peer to set up a temporary recording studio in Bristol. In a similar vein, the producers sponsored a talent contest for the Orthophonic Joy project. Corbin Hayslett, a 20-year-old banjo player, won the competition with his rendition of "Darling Cora," which he ultimately recorded for the project. [Wikipedia]

Old San Antone

American Epic: The Collection is a 100-track, 5-CD box set of American roots music performances from the 1920s and 1930s. It was compiled by film director Bernard MacMahon to accompany the release of his American Epic documentary film series. The box features 100 songs by 100 different artists and has been acclaimed by many critics as a worthy successor to the Anthology of American Folk Music and one of the best box sets to ever be released. The box set won particular acclaim for the song selection and the sound quality of the transfers of vintage 78rpm records.



Excellent collection.

Old San Antone

The Stanley Brothers (with the varying personnel of their three-or four-piece backing group, the Clinch Mountain Boys), were still-young bluegrass veterans when they arrived at Mercury in 1953, guitarist Carter about to turn 28, and banjoist Ralph 26. Recording was not the primary element in their career; they managed only 46 tracks in 12 sessions in four-and-a-half years (the last two selections come from an undated session for Smash, a label acquired by Mercury). But that gave them time to come up with excellent original material; 37 of the songs here were written by one or both of the brothers. [Allmusic]



Bluegrass hardly gets any better than this.

8)


Gurn Blanston

Quote from: Old San Antone on April 29, 2020, 05:33:36 PM
The Stanley Brothers (with the varying personnel of their three-or four-piece backing group, the Clinch Mountain Boys), were still-young bluegrass veterans when they arrived at Mercury in 1953, guitarist Carter about to turn 28, and banjoist Ralph 26. Recording was not the primary element in their career; they managed only 46 tracks in 12 sessions in four-and-a-half years (the last two selections come from an undated session for Smash, a label acquired by Mercury). But that gave them time to come up with excellent original material; 37 of the songs here were written by one or both of the brothers. [Allmusic]



Bluegrass hardly gets any better than this.

8)

I loved Ralph on the soundtrack of 'Oh Brother, where art thou?', singing 'Man of Constant Sorrow'  and also the 'Soggy Bottom Boys'. That was one of the best movie soundtracks ever. Every time some one here on the forum brings up movie soundtracks, I always want to post that one just to show them what they could be!  :D

8)
Visit my Haydn blog: HaydnSeek

Haydn: that genius of vulgar music who induces an inordinate thirst for beer - Mily Balakirev (1860)

Gurn Blanston

Just wanted to take a minute and thank you, SA, for starting this thread up. My bluegrass listening has been spread over 50 years (starting with Flatt & Scruggs), but has not been in any way methodical. So all I really go by is "I've heard some stuff by this guy or that group that I really like" but it isn't like I've ever collected records, like I have with Classical. So suggestions from anyone that come up are much appreciated!

8)
Visit my Haydn blog: HaydnSeek

Haydn: that genius of vulgar music who induces an inordinate thirst for beer - Mily Balakirev (1860)

Old San Antone

Quote from: Gurn Blanston on April 29, 2020, 05:43:18 PM
I loved Ralph on the soundtrack of 'Oh Brother, where art thou?', singing 'Man of Constant Sorrow'  and also the 'Soggy Bottom Boys'. That was one of the best movie soundtracks ever. Every time some one here on the forum brings up movie soundtracks, I always want to post that one just to show them what they could be!  :D

8)

I agree 100% on the soundtrack.  That recording kicked started a new wave of bluegrass and old time recording and formation of bands by a new generation of musicians which has resulted in some really great music.  I have called it New Old Time - honoring the tradition but also bringing some new blood into it.

Some names:
Grascals
Steel Drivers
Anna & Elizabeth
Balsam Ridge
Chatham County Line
Crooked Still
Earls of Leicester (started out as a tribute band to Flatt &Scruggs by some of the best Nashville players)
Flatt Lonesome
Hammertowne
Sierra Hull
Molly Tuttle
Crooked Jade
Rayna Gellert (also with Kieran Kane)
Lonesome Sisters

So many, too many to name.

Also, there have been some great tribute albums, just a couple:

Bill Monroe Centennial Celebration
The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family


Gurn Blanston

Quote from: Old San Antone on April 30, 2020, 03:24:43 AM
I agree 100% on the soundtrack.  That recording kicked started a new wave of bluegrass and old time recording and formation of bands by a new generation of musicians which has resulted in some really great music.  I have called it New Old Time - honoring the tradition but also bringing some new blood into it.

Some names:
Grascals
Steel Drivers
Anna & Elizabeth
Balsam Ridge
Chatham County Line
Crooked Still
Earls of Leicester (started out as a tribute band to Flatt &Scruggs by some of the best Nashville players)
Flatt Lonesome
Hammertowne
Sierra Hull
Molly Tuttle
Crooked Jade
Rayna Gellert (also with Kieran Kane)
Lonesome Sisters

So many, too many to name.

Also, there have been some great tribute albums, just a couple:

Bill Monroe Centennial Celebration
The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family

Some of those names are familiar, I have heard them on the NPR Bluegrass show with Dave Higgs, or else seen them on the PBS show 'Bluegrass Underground', which sometimes even has bluegrass! Mostly I cruise through Youtube and run across concerts, or jamborees with maybe 2 hours of top name players, like Ricky Skaggs or Alison Krause. That Bill Monroe Centennial looks tempting. I saw an old video just recently of his band with Stringbean playing banjo (before Earl Scruggs joined up) that was fantastic. I'd like a DVD full of those old timey vids. :)

8)
Visit my Haydn blog: HaydnSeek

Haydn: that genius of vulgar music who induces an inordinate thirst for beer - Mily Balakirev (1860)

Gurn Blanston

We were taling about Doc Watson the other day, and I ran across this 45 minute concert this evening, it's soooo good! Hope y'all enjoy it as much as I am doing. :)

8)

https://www.youtube.com/v/6mh_PuYjBjc
Visit my Haydn blog: HaydnSeek

Haydn: that genius of vulgar music who induces an inordinate thirst for beer - Mily Balakirev (1860)

Old San Antone

Doc Watson is a classic, nice link.  Last year I read this biography:

[asin]B0089YLKVW[/asin]

Well written and enjoyable to read.