Exploring Bluegrass

Subject: Exploring Bluegrass
From: GUEST,Phillip J. Thomason
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 04:45 PM

Just to justify myself, i'll try again!

I'd like to have some expert help exploring and finding more bluegrass music, similar to Old Crow Medicine Show and Alison Krauss!

Im looking for the old, fast paced bluegrass music (banjo, violin) lots of rhythm and dynamic.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: Wesley S
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 04:52 PM

http://www.crowmedicine.com/

http://www.alisonkrauss.com/

http://www.kingwilkie.com/

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: Wesley S
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 04:56 PM

This is from www.allmusic.com

Bluegrass music grew out of traditional string band music that formed the roots of country music. In the '40s, country music began to splinter into different directions, as honky tonk and country-pop became genres of their own. A certain segment of country musicians continued playing traditional string music. Led by Bill Monroe, these musicians adhered to the songs, structures, and conventions of string bands, but they made the music faster, harder, and more technically demanding. The result was bluegrass; the genre was named after Bill Monroe's backing band, the Blue Grass Boys. After its inception in the mid-'40s, and its popularization in the '50s, the sound had become part of country music, and there were legions of bands that followed in their footsteps. In the late '60s, a number of bluegrass groups began expanding the possibilities of the genre, much to the chagrin of many of the music's most popular artists and dedicated fans. Consequently, the new breed of bluegrass groups were dubbed progressive bluegrass, while those that adhered to the music's heritage were tagged traditional bluegrass. Over the next three decades, progressive bluegrass changed frequently, while the sound of traditional bluegrass rarely varied.


Flatt & Scruggs Lester Flatt Jim & Jesse The Kentucky Colonels Jimmy Martin Del McCoury Bill Monroe Reno & Smiley Earl Scruggs The Stanley Brothers Ralph Stanley Eddie Adcock Hylo Brown J.D. Crowe Doyle Lawson Old & In the Way Osborne Brothers Reno Brothers Don Reno

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: kendall
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 05:03 PM

Not to mention Don Stover and B Lilly

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: GLoux
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 05:07 PM

For a good read, try Bluegrass, by Neil V. Rosenberg.

-Greg

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: Cluin
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 06:18 PM

Bill Monroe, The Seldom Scene, Joe Val, Chris Thile, J.D. Crowe & New South, Peter Rowan, Boone Creek, Salamander Crossing, Kentucky Thunder, Flatt & Scruggs, Union Station, among others...

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: Fortunato
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 10:03 PM

Don Reno, Red Smiley, Buzz Busby, Clarence White, THe Seldom Scene, The Country Gentlemen, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Patuxent Partners.
Google these guys.

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: Richie
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 10:26 PM

I'd have to say that the Old Crowe Medicine Show, guys that I've played in the same concert and know personally, are not bluegrass. I'd call them old-time string band. I love their sound and music.

Alison Krauss can play bluegrass but she's not really bluegrass either. She does a wide variety of styles.

So I'm not sure what you really want. Maybe you need to think about old-time also.

Richie

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 07:31 AM

Alison Krauss was something of a wunderkind, and started out pretty much as a bluegrass performer.

From an extensive bio:

"Krauss initially studied classical violin, starting at five, but she quickly switched to bluegrass. By age eight she started entering local talent contests and at ten she had her own band. At twelve she won the Illinois State Fiddle Championship and the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass in America named her the Most Promising Fiddler in the Midwest. In 1987, her debut album Too Late To Cry was released when she was 16. This was followed by her first record with her band Union Station in 1989, Two Highways. At this time, the lineup of Union Station was Jeff White (guitar, lead & harmony vocals), John Pennell (bass) -- who has written many of Alison's earliest material, most notably the favorite "Everytime You Say Goodbye," and Mark Harman (banjo, harmony vocals). Included on this record are many traditional bluegrass numbers, and a bluegrass interpretation of The Allman Brothers' "Midnight Rider.""

This bio gives a long rundown of her recordings, solo and with her band(s), and does show a lot of versatility with crossovers into several different styles. Also:

"She has contributed to numerous motion picture soundtracks, including Twister, The Prince of Egypt, Eight Crazy Nights, Mona Lisa Smile, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and Cold Mountain. The Cold Mountain songs, Sting's "You Will Be My Ain' True Love" and T-Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello's "The Scarlet Tide", were nominated for Best Original Song Oscars in 2003, and she performed on the Academy Awards."

Perhaps one of those movies is the one Phillip saw.

Her publicists continue to refer to her as a "bluegrass" artist, but she's much more versatile than that. Her most recent several major awards have been in "Country Music" categories.

John

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: leeneia
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 09:51 AM

Hello, Phillip. Welcome.

Here's a CD which is not well known, but that I love. It offers variety and wonderful musicianship. It was given to me by a friend from Ames, Iowa.

Barn Owls Live

Google the exact phrase "Barn Owls Live" and you will find a source for it.

Is it just coincidence, or is the music playing this very moment from "Barn Owls Live"?

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: Scrump
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 09:58 AM

I'm surprised no-one mentioned Alison Krauss's involvement with the soundtrack of the Coen Bros film "Oh Brother Where Art Thou?" - I would have thought that could well have been the movie the OP was thinking of? (If I've undersrood correctly).

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 10:57 AM

Try this:

The Bluegrass College

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 12:46 PM

Alison Krauss at Internet Movie Database (IMDb).

SRS

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: leeneia
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 05:29 PM

Funniest thing, the last time I opened this thread, banjo music started playing. I assumed Phillip had set it up.

That music was indeed from the "Barn Owls Live" CD. Phillip, if you don't have it, that CD would be a fine one to have. It is for sale at cdbaby among other places.

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 08:49 PM

GLoux (Greg) recommended "Bluegrass, A History," by Neil V. Rosenberg, Univ. Illinois Press, and I would like to second that.
I found a copy on the library discard table and it is excellent.

Perhaps more than is wanted, but it is one of those books one can go back to again and again for details. A very good Discography (to 1985) and a helpful index.

I see a 20th Anniversary edition came out in 2005, with some 65 more pages- perhaps someone can tell me if this addition has an enlarged discography??

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: Cluin
Date: 23 Dec 06 - 05:01 PM

Some great free online bluegrass radio. Just needs Windows Media Player (or WinAmp or MusicMatch or other media player) and a good internet connection.

bluegrassradio.org

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 23 Dec 06 - 10:12 PM

Most of the people that I would have recommended have been mentioned, J.D. Crowe included. Some of his best work was with the Bluegrass Album Band.

A great starting point is the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken".

Subject: RE: Exploring Bluegrass
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 23 Dec 06 - 10:20 PM

Oh yeah, If you like Allison Krauss you will probably like Rhonda Vincent and The Rage.