From Amazon.com
Magnificent Banjos; Bluegrass/Newgrass Sampler
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: I could not possibly add depth to the the excellent reviews already listed here. So I will write for the novice listener.
Most of those who have never gotten into Banjo music think of the claw hammer (read LOUD) style of playing that is featured in most traditional bluegrass music. Most of the negative reviews you will read here are from those who only like that "traditional" style, which is funny when you realize that Bluegrass is a much younger form than Jazz and really only a few years older than Rock and Roll (Chuck Berry clearly borrowed styles from Monroe who was his slightly older contemporary).
This album covers both Bluegrass and Newgrass and even some "modern" forms (the rambling, spare duet with Fleck). It has an Indy Rocker like Chris Thile coming back to his roots and a comedian coming back to one of his old hobbies. So it really is not strictly a bluegrass album, despite the title.
And it's not all loud. There are lots of very delicate fingerings and duets that are quite subtle and even soft, if you can imagine the Banjo being played that way. Some of the arrangements are straightforward, but most are playful, original and some are suites of musical styles.
This is the best introduction to Banjo Music that I could possibly imagine, a true sampler of great players in diverse styles.
Winner of a richly deserved - and long overdue - Grammy
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: The 5-string resonator banjo, long the center of insert-unpopular-musician-of-choice-here jokes and stereotyped as the only instrument for toothless rednecks, has finally met its match in this album.
Tony Trischka is a banjo player's banjo player, and I've long thought him grossly underappreciated; he can lay down a rock-solid Scruggs rhythmic groove and/or marry it with Bill Keith-level melodic stylings. But that ain't all; he's got his own sense of structure and chromatics and Trischka's style is absolutely his own. He plays with wit and verve and real joy. He's an extraordinary student of the instrument; although most of his work is on a modern resonator banjo, played three-finger style, Trischka is also an accomplished clawhammer player and can also play moving pieces on African instruments that were the progenitors of the modern banjo.
This album doesn't include any of those older forms of music, but - well, heck - it is the Double Banjo BLUEGRASS Spectacular, after all. In creating this disc, Trischka has summoned a Who's Who of the best players working to join in a brilliant collection of tunes featuring two banjos.
What a joy to hear Trischka and Earl Scruggs together on a reprise of "Farewell Blues." At 80 some-odd years old, the man who created the sound of bluegrass banjo can still lay it down and Trischka is brilliant with him - accenting the work of the master and never upstaging him. There are extraordinary readings of songs with the likes of innovators like Noam Pikelny and Alison Brown. In fact, just about the only player you'd wish was on this album who isn't is Bill Keith, and one suspects that Trischka would have done almost anything to have him on this disc (Keith truly despises the entire process of recording).
Two of the tracks were recorded with Steve Martin - yes, THAT Steve Martin - and it really is time that Martin released a serious album of his own banjo music; he's that good a player. Perhaps DBBS will prove an inspiration, and kudos to Trischka for not only bringing him aboard for this project but also featuring one of Martin's own songs (The Crow, which may be the most pop-accessible tune on the disc; it's the one that was played on Letterman and Ellen etc.).
But let us speak of Bela Fleck. Fleck was one of Trischka's students; they remain close friends and continue to influence each other to this day. Fleck is also present on two songs, including what I consider the disc's absolute standout piece: and 8-minute opus called Twilight Kingdom. The tune was written by Trischka and starts with a languid double-C-with-Scruggs-Tuners statement of theme. Joined by Fleck, Alison Krauss bass player Barry Bales, Dobro whiz Jerry Douglas, guitarist David Grier and a bunch of other top Nashville studio cats, the theme gets restated and improvised upon before stating a third theme and accelerating like an amusement park ride into a breakneck romp featuring amazingly sly guitar work, one of the best solos Douglas ever recorded, and truly amazing trades of leads by Fleck and Trischka. You'll love it if you just like great acoustic music. If you ever tried to play any of these instruments, it'll melt your brain.
Tony Trischka won a Grammy for this album and it's long overdue. He's recorded brilliant stuff in the past. Perhaps more importantly, Trischka has layed his fingerprints on the five-string banjo as it's played today in a way few other players can boast. He's a brilliant teacher, a genuinely nice guy, and a superb musician who is always looking for interesting new sounds and melodies to coax out of one of the most persnickety stringed instruments ever invented.
If you're a fan of the banjo, you'll love this album. If you're on the fence, try it anyway. This album has so many interesting things going on with it - and so many brilliant players - that you may just realize what a spectacularly versatile instrument it is.
Album Review
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: This album was a REAL treat. Tony returned once again to his bread and butter! BLUEGRASS! He takes a step back in time with "Old Cane Pole" and knocks one out of the park by teaming up with Steve Martin for a couple of songs. Of course, his work with Bela Fleck is tremendous as I believe the song Twilight Kingdom is probably the best track on the album. This a "Can't Lose" purchase if you enjoy bluegrass on any level. Tony Trischka is brilliant by showing his ability to make great banjo players even better!
Snappy, innovative album with pyrotechnic five-string duets
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: Playing Time - 57:14 -- Are you a bluegrass fan who just can't get enough banjo? Then this is just the snappy and innovative album for you. Pyrotechnic five-string duets performed with excellent accompaniment are on the menu of Tony Trischka's "Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular." Originally from New York, Tony began picking the banjo in 1963 at age 14. One of his students, Bela Fleck, is also prominently featured on this project as both a player and tunewriter. The other nimble-fingered banjo-players in the duets include Earl Scruggs, Steve Martin, Alison Brown, Tom Adams, Scott Vestal, Noam Pikelny, Kenny Ingram and Bill Emerson. Quick-paced romps give way to bright and breezy grooves with all of the standard bluegrass instruments getting a piece of the action. The guitar breaks from David Grier, Kenny Smith and Tony Rice are especially noteworthy, although I found it interesting that Grier's were isolated rather far right in the stereo mix. A few vocal bluegrass numbers provide some changes in the disc's overall musical mood. Dudley Connell sings lead on "Fox on the Run" and "Live and Let Live." Lou Reid or Sally Love provide some backing vocals. Michael Daves sings on "Run Mountain."
At almost nine minutes in length, Twilight Kingdom begins with melodious interplay between Trischka and Fleck before being infused with added hustle four minutes into the piece that is one of six songs that Trischka wrote or co-wrote on the project. They also collaborate on the project's leanest arrangement, "Armando's Children," written by Bela. From the repertoire of Jim Eanes and The Shenandoah Boys, the album closes with Steve Martin and Tony Trischka in the drivers' seats for "Plunkin' Rag" (aka "Ridin' the Waves") in which the two pickers provide harmony with their Scruggs tuners. Don't try that at home without the ability to overdub! This is a top notch, expressive production that shows how much adoration the banjo is deserving of. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)
Banjo Rules
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: This cd has the best selection of banjo songs out there, as well as different styles played by different artists. This cd includes Earl Scruggs playing Farewell Blues, Tom Adams playing Fox on the Run, Bela Fleck playing Twilight Harbor, and many more. Definitely buy.
Purchases
1 Farewell Blues - Tony Trischka, Schoebel, Elmer
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