The first single from the upcoming Chris Thile Thile CD, How To Grow A Woman From The Ground, is available now as an iTunes exclusive. The song is Chris’ take on Jimmy Rodgers’ Brakeman’s Blues, and features Chris on mandolin and vocal, with Chris Eldridge on guitar, Greg Garrison on bass, Noam Pikelny on banjo and Gabe Witcher on fiddle.

We have posted several times about this new project, and how it marks Thile’s return to an embrace of the bluegrass and traditional music that had initially attracted him to the mandolin. Not every song would fit that description, but this track has him in that environment. His version of Brakeman’s Blues features a wild, passionate set of variations on the classic line-ending yodel that manages to surprise you each time the phrase comes along. The pickers demonstrate in turn why they are considered to be among the enfants terrible of modern bluegrass, and Chris’ Monroe-inflected mandolin solo is especially impressive.

We’ll have more to say about it as the release date nears. It is a powerful recording from one of this music’s future stars. We hope to have a GrassCast interview with Chris before long as well.

The full CD will be released on September 12, but the single can be purchased now directly from the iTunes Music Store for $.99, where you can also hear an audio sample of the song in iTunes.

See previous posts:
Pre orders now available for new Thile CD
New tracks from upcoming Chris Thile release
Chris Thile trivia contest on MySpace
New Thile CD samples up
Chris Thile touring this summer