It was almost 35 years ago that the debut album from The David Grisman Quintet was released. It hit the bluegrass and acoustic music world like a sledgehammer, and opened a window of opportunity for an entire generation of pickers eager to experiment with new forms and sounds using the traditional bluegrass instruments.

Grisman’s bands help energize the careers of such stellar artists as Tony Rice, Mike Marshall, Mark O’Conner, Darol Anger, and many more. Since 1976, his eclectic groups have served as the same sort of proving ground for new acoustic music that Bill Monroe’s and Doyle Lawson’s bands have in bluegrass.

Current guitarist with Grisman is Grant Gordy, an extremely talented young man from Colorado, whose eponymous solo album was released a few weeks back. It shows just how much of the Dawg Ethos he has absorbed, effortlessly combining elements of bluegrass, jazz and international folk styles in his original music. Gordy also arranges these pieces with the ensemble in mind… in other words, this is not a “guitar album.” Many of the themes are stated by the other instruments (mandolin, fiddle, bass or banjo), and the entrance of the guitar is often delayed until well into the song.

With Grant on this recording is a who’s who of young progressive string musicians: Dominic Leslie on mandolin, Alex Hargreaves on fiddle and Paul Kowert on bass. Canadian banjoist Jayme Stone co-produced with Gordy, and lent his banjo to a number of the tracks. He expressed nothing but admiration and respect for these precocious youngsters.

“It was an honor working with such super-talented musicians. Their virtuosity is obvious, but more importantly they’re amazingly mature musicians who understand the legacy of this music even as they push it forward. Grant is one of my closest friends so it’s been really satisfying to watch his music come to life, and now make its way into the world.

Grant toured with my Africa To Appalachia project. He’s on my upcoming album and will be touring with me (and Casey Dreissen) starting in late September.”

Bossman David Grisman also appears on one track, a Gordy original called Blues To Dawg.

We conducted a lengthy interview with Grant, in which he talked about his music, how he learned and developed as a guitarist, and how he hooked up with these other young superpickers who appear with him on the album. There is much to emulate in his story for any students of modern string music who hope to follow this same path, and many lessons for musicians of any age or stripe.

Several audio samples appear after the jump as well.

“My background or musical path is one that I consider very much of a ‘folk musician,’ in the broad sense of the word folk. I like to use that term because the definition that I understand of folk music is essentially music that is passed down through aural tradition, doesn’t tend to be written down – it’s literally passed from musician to musician much in the same way another apprenticeship-based skill would be taught. So including listening to and learning from recordings of musicians that I respect, I’ve tried to absorb as much as I can just from being around musical people.

I don’t like the term ‘self taught,’ because I feel that it’s misleading; but I never studied formally, either in college or with private instructors. I have taken two guitar lessons in my life – one with a great straight ahead jazz guitarist here in Denver and the other just about a month ago in Portland with another great jazz guitarist named Dan Balmer. I sort of called him up on a whim while I was in town for a couple days and it was a very inspiring experience. I’d like to do more actually! (more…)

It was almost 35 years ago that the debut album from The David Grisman Quintet was released. It hit the bluegrass and acoustic music world like a sledgehammer, and opened a window of opportunity for an entire generation of pickers eager to experiment with new forms and sounds using the traditional bluegrass instruments.

Grisman’s bands help energize the careers of such stellar artists as Tony Rice, Mike Marshall, Mark O’Conner, Darol Anger, and many more. Since 1976, his eclectic groups have served as the same sort of proving ground for new acoustic music that Bill Monroe’s and Doyle Lawson’s bands have in bluegrass.

Current guitarist with Grisman is Grant Gordy, an extremely talented young man from Colorado, whose eponymous solo album was released a few weeks back. It shows just how much of the Dawg Ethos he has absorbed, effortlessly combining elements of bluegrass, jazz and international folk styles in his original music. Gordy also arranges these pieces with the ensemble in mind… in other words, this is not a “guitar album.” Many of the themes are stated by the other instruments (mandolin, fiddle, bass or banjo), and the entrance of the guitar is often delayed until well into the song.

With Grant on this recording is a who’s who of young progressive string musicians: Dominic Leslie on mandolin, Alex Hargreaves on fiddle and Paul Kowert on bass. Canadian banjoist Jayme Stone co-produced with Gordy, and lent his banjo to a number of the tracks. He expressed nothing but admiration and respect for these precocious youngsters.

“It was an honor working with such super-talented musicians. Their virtuosity is obvious, but more importantly they’re amazingly mature musicians who understand the legacy of this music even as they push it forward. Grant is one of my closest friends so it’s been really satisfying to watch his music come to life, and now make its way into the world.

Grant toured with my Africa To Appalachia project. He’s on my upcoming album and will be touring with me (and Casey Dreissen) starting in late September.”

Bossman David Grisman also appears on one track, a Gordy original called Blues To Dawg.

We conducted a lengthy interview with Grant, in which he talked about his music, how he learned and developed as a guitarist, and how he hooked up with these other young superpickers who appear with him on the album. There is much to emulate in his story for any students of modern string music who hope to follow this same path, and many lessons for musicians of any age or stripe.

Several audio samples appear after the jump as well.

“My background or musical path is one that I consider very much of a ‘folk musician,’ in the broad sense of the word folk. I like to use that term because the definition that I understand of folk music is essentially music that is passed down through aural tradition, doesn’t tend to be written down – it’s literally passed from musician to musician much in the same way another apprenticeship-based skill would be taught. So including listening to and learning from recordings of musicians that I respect, I’ve tried to absorb as much as I can just from being around musical people.

I don’t like the term ‘self taught,’ because I feel that it’s misleading; but I never studied formally, either in college or with private instructors. I have taken two guitar lessons in my life – one with a great straight ahead jazz guitarist here in Denver and the other just about a month ago in Portland with another great jazz guitarist named Dan Balmer. I sort of called him up on a whim while I was in town for a couple days and it was a very inspiring experience. I’d like to do more actually! (more…)

As promised, here is video of Mountain Heart at the Suwannee River Jam last weekend. These two clips follow the guys in the backstage artist area, on the bus, singing the National Anthem to kick off the event, and then kicking it on stage.

There are scenes from the band’s sets and a midnight jam with LoCash Cowboys, who also shower Mountain Heart with praise on the bus.

HEAR music, LIKE music, BUY music

It’s so simple and obvious. It’s always been true. It only happens that way, and it only happens in that order. If your online music strategy doesn’t follow that universal truth, then you’re only making it hard for yourself.

Museum party features kickin bluegrass, finger-lickin BBQ

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences hosts “Bluegrass & Barbeque” on Saturday, April 10 from 7 to 10pm. Tap your toes to live bluegrass music from the Kickin Grass Band, indulge in delicious barbecue from Kings Restaurant, and bid on vacation getaways and other interesting items at the Silent Auction. All proceeds benefit the Educators of Excellence Fund, a Museum program that provides unique continuing education opportunities for science teachers across the state.

Jessica Simpson Preps Bluegrass Debut (This is humor, not real news)

According to the terms of her signing, Simpson will tour the bluegrass festival circuit to poor reviews this spring and summer, then be dropped by Rounder when her debut album inevitably tanks. “We just needed a quick, lighthearted fling to take our minds off the recent departure of [longtime Rounder artist] Rhonda Vincent,” commented label co-founder Ken Irwin by email. “This should be hilarious.”

Bluegrass beauty products by Elizabeth Arden

Designed for the woman who longs to smell like the third day of a hot mid-august bluegrass festival, there is deodorant, perfume, body power, etc.

Banjo Barbie (uhmm…)

All three of these festivals were a real hoot and I suggest if there are any bluegrass gatherings in your area – to check them out.

Bluegrass Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (I just liked the title)

This past weekend I attended the Bluegrass Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Open Submission Only event in Louisville, KY run by Louisville Martial Arts Academy (a Pedro Sauer Affiliate). This event was organized, well run, and a lot of fun.