The Gerry Beaudoin Trio - Just Among Friends

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 47:34
Size: 108.9 MB
Styles: Swing, Guitar jazz
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[3:39] 1. Just Among Friends
[4:14] 2. St. Thomas
[5:01] 3. Nashville Nod
[5:30] 4. My Romance
[3:58] 5. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
[6:03] 6. All Blues
[4:29] 7. Misty
[6:11] 8. The Girl From Ipanema
[8:26] 9. Mood Indigo

This second acoustic recording featuring the Gerry Beaudoin Trio with jazz guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli and mandolin titan David Grisman was " ..submitted for consideration for a Grammy nomination." Award winning jazz guitarist Gerry Beaudoin, (1992 National Association of Independent Record Distributors Award for best jazz recording and 1993 and 1995 Cadence Magazine Editors Choice Award)has performed on over 22 recordings in his career. A guitarists guitarist Gerry has performed or recorded with the cream of jazz and blues guitarists including Duke Robillard, Howard Alden, John and Bucky Pizzarelli, Jimmy Bruno, Jack Wilkins, Ronnie Earl, Hubert Sumlin,and rock guitar legend turned jazz guitarist Jay Geils from the J.Geils Band. He is also a featured performer on the Mel Bay Productions DVD,Cafe Benedetto. Gerry was recently contracted by Hal Leonard Publishing to write a book/CD project on acoustic jazz guitar.

A chance meeting with mandolinist David Grisman in 1990 led to their 1992 all acoustic recording, Minor Swing, with Duke Robillard sitting in on second guitar. Just Among Friends is the follow up to that first recording and jazz guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli lent his talents to this recording. To quote David Grisman" ..Gerry Beaudoin is one of the finest guitarists and composers I know. I am looking forward to more musical adventures with Gerry and his trio in the future." The Boston Globe called Gerry ".." A swing guitar master." and blues guitar legend Duke Robillard stated,"..Gerry can play anything from swing to bop and is one hell of a blues guitarist."

Gerry also performs in the concert attraction New Guitar Summit, featuring Gerry with Duke Robillard and Jay Geils. In 2003 Gerry was invited to headline the Ottawa International Jazz Festival.

Just Among Friends

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Gerry Beaudoin Trio - Minor Swing

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:14
Size: 105.9 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 1992/2013
Art: Front

[5:17] 1. Swing With Dr Jake
[5:29] 2. Annouman
[3:50] 3. Baby Boy Blues
[3:36] 4. Ain't No Sunshine
[5:54] 5. Django's Castle
[3:24] 6. Minor Swing
[4:08] 7. In A Mellow Tone
[3:54] 8. So Long Ebony
[3:46] 9. Airola
[6:51] 10. Jackie's Serenade

“… Gerry Beaudoin is a fine guitarist, composer and arranger. I am looking forward to more musical adventures with Gerry and his trio in the future.” - David Grisman

The all acoustic, no amps allowed, recordings by the Gerry Beaudoin Trio were a watershed mark in Gerry’s’ career. His special guest, mandolinist David Grisman, had a huge impact on on the way Gerry looked at music and the setting he presented it in. ” When I first heard the David Grisman Quintet I was very aware after a few songs that David was not just a jazz player but had allowed all of his experiences in music and all the genres he played or listened to to come out in his music. I also noticed, like all great jazz musicians, he used the Quintet as an instrument. One other thing that wasn’t lost on me was that instead of playing jazz standards he was presenting his original compositions and crossing genres and grooves effortlessly. This had a huge impact on me. I started writing more of my own material that wasn’t solely based on the jazz lexicon and listening to a broader spectrum of music.” One other important fact wasn’t lost on Gerry,” I learned from seeing The David Grisman Quintet that all acoustic instruments performing with out amplification is such a great, pure musical sound. Each instrument has it’s own unique voice acoustically that has to be brought out by the player. His technique and control of the instrument helps create the sound not amplification which can change the sound drastically. ” After jamming in the dressing room with David one night at Cambridge Massachusetts now defunct club, Night Stage, Gerry knew what he wanted to do for his next recording. He invited David in as his guest with his new band that included two or three acoustic guitars, Gerry, Larry Baione and Duke Robillard, his regular rhythm section of Bob Nieske on acoustic bass, Chuck Laire on drums and Matt Glaser on fiddle. The result was his fourth recording as a leader, the all acoustic Minor Swing. The rapport between David and Gerry was instant as well as the rest of the band. The ten song CD, running the gamut from Django Rheinhart, Bill Withers, Duke Ellington and five Beaudoin originals has been hailed as one of Gerry’s finest recordings. David’s appearance on seven songs is stunning in it’s virtuosity. ”Through out the session David was into it like it was his own project and his wealth of experience in the recording studio as well as in performing totally acoustic music contributed immensely to the success of the recording. ”Gerry knew when he walked out of the studio he had recorded a winner. ” It was one of the best times I ever had in the studio. Everyone contributed to make the music the best we could. Stand out memories are Bob’s solo on Jackie’s Serenade and Dukes solo break on Swing with Dr. Jake and of course playing with David. Everyone was hot and playing in the pocket.” says Gerry almost twenty years later.

Minor Swing

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David Grisman, Denny Zeitlin - New River

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:29
Size: 136,9 MB
Art: Front

( 7:07) 1. Brazilian Street Dance
( 5:45) 2. Dawg Funk
( 4:51) 3. Moving Parts
( 4:55) 4. Blue Midnite
( 5:42) 5. New River
( 4:25) 6. Waltz For Gigi
( 8:45) 7. Dg/dz Blues
(10:29) 8. On The March
( 7:25) 9. Fourteen Miles To Barstow

This set features two eclectic Californians, mandolinist David Grisman and pianist Denny Zeitlin, in a lively and unusual duo setting. The contrast between mandolin and piano couldn’t be greater, of course. Zeitlin’s orchestral playing, with its expansive timbral range and resonating low end, does most of the heavy lifting. Grisman’s instrument has its inherent limitations tiny neck, circumscribed harmonic capacity, somewhat tinny sound. But Grisman is a master at wringing the unexpected from those eight strings.

Not only does he display unparalleled virtuosity and melodic resourcefulness; he also responds to Zeitlin with just the right sonic touches, comping jazz-style on "Blue Midnite" and creating ethereal pick-slide effects on the mini-epic "On the March." The program is evenly split between Zeitlin’s originals and Grisman’s; the loose minor-key "DG/DZ Blues" is co-written. Following the invigorating, Gershwin-meets-bluegrass finale, "Fourteen Miles to Barstow," Grisman and Zeitlin keep the tape rolling for some brief free-improv, a hidden track. Throughout the session, Grisman brings out the new-acoustic, Americana side of Zeitlin, while Zeitlin brings out the jazz in Grisman. The result is music that is refreshingly beyond category. ~ David Adler https://www.allaboutjazz.com/new-river-david-grisman-acoustic-disc-review-by-david-adler.php

Personnel: David Grisman, mandolin; Denny Zeitlin, piano

New River

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David Grisman Quintet - Dawgnation

Styles: Mandolin
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:17
Size: 154,1 MB
Art: Front

(0:23)  1. Citizens Of Dawgnation
(6:51)  2. Slade
(6:51)  3. Mellow Mang
(3:45)  4. Why Did The Mouse Marry The Elephant?
(6:19)  5. Cha Cha Chihauhua
(3:33)  6. Desert Dawg
(4:08)  7. Twin Town
(5:06)  8. Vivace
(4:28)  9. Mr. Coolberg
(5:41) 10. Dawgnation
(6:08) 11. Bluegrass At the Beach
(5:10) 12. Argentine Trio
(7:49) 13. Dawg After Dark

David Grisman returns in fine, if standard, form on Dawgnation, the first record of new material produced by his David Grisman Quintet since 1995's Dawganova. The material on Dawgnation doesn't break any new ground particularly, though Grisman's so-called "dawg" music a mix of bluegrass, hot jazz, Latin grooves, klezmer, and world rhythms can still be exhilarating, especially if one has never heard it before. The band manages to keep the energy high and the music fresh-sounding, making this as fine a starting point into the quintet as any. Each of the tracks is a tribute to one of Grisman's extended musical family such as "Slade" (for the late Charles Sawtelle), "Why Did the Mouse Marry the Elephant?" (for bassist Edgar Meyer), and the title track for "Spudboy" (aka Jerry Garcia). Still, the pastoral mix of Matt Eakle's flute, Enrique Coria's flamenco jazz guitar, and Joe Craven's fiddle and percussion with Grisman's mandolin melodies doesn't break any new boundaries. It is calming, pretty, well-executed music that is unlikely to offend anyone, but is ultimately (perhaps) slightly too lite to be considered ballsy and a touch too syncopated and strange to find acceptance among any mainstream audience. ~ Jesse Jarnow https://www.allmusic.com/album/dawgnation-mw0000219429

Personnel:  David Grisman – mandolin, mandola; Enrique Coria – guitar, whistle; Matt Eakle – flute, bass flute; Jim Kerwin – double bass; Joe Craven – percussion, violin, mandolin

Dawgnation

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Peter Ecklund - Gigs Reminiscing In Music

Styles: Cornet Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:06
Size: 144,4 MB
Art: Front

(2:55)  1. Say It With A Kiss
(4:40)  2. Winter Waltz
(4:41)  3. Django And Bix
(5:38)  4. Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me
(3:34)  5. Blue Bix
(3:42)  6. When You're Smiling
(2:47)  7. Russian Lillaby
(5:23)  8. Tailfins
(4:16)  9. My Blue Heaven
(4:02) 10. Fuddy Duddy
(3:27) 11. When You And I Were Young, Maggie
(5:12) 12. At The Track
(4:12) 13. At The Fair
(3:51) 14. Midnight Hour Blues
(3:38) 15. Blackey's Song

A veteran sit-in cornetist with various Dixieland bands and the backup groups of Leon Redbone, David Bromberg, and more recently Madeleine Peyroux, Ecklund's folk-derived swing is expressed through a variety of different combos on these 15 cuts, eight written by the leader. Some feature dual acoustic guitarists Peyroux and Steve Cardenas, others mandolinist David Grisman and guitarist Frank Vignola, with Marty Grosz (guitar), Dan Block (woodwinds) and Keith Ingham (celeste), or Jay Ungar (violin) and Molly Mason (guitar). Cameos come from clarinetists Ken Peplowski and Bobby Gordon, Howard Johnson (tuba), and Warren Bernhardt (Fender Rhodes). The most focused, centralized group is the Grisman-Vignola band with bassist Murray Wall. They do the delicate, swaying "Winter Waltz," the more intense, off-the-cuff, cornet-driven "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives (Gave) to Me" (trading riffs at the coda), the Bix Beiderbecke-derived easy swing of "Blue Bix," and the hardest swinger "Russian Lullaby," where Grisman steps up and hits a triple. Cardenas and Peyroux softly strum while Peplowski leads in midtempo during "Django & Bix," and evoke strains of "My Old Kentucky Home" during "When You & I Were Young, Maggie." The celeste adds a quaint sound to Block's clarinet and Ecklund's old-timey horn on "Say It With a Kiss"; meanwhile, Block's big baritone sax bolsters "When You're Smiling," as does his alto during "Fuddy Duddy," with Grosz's ever-present swing nailing it down. Ungar and Gordon's strings tiptoe through tulips on Leroy Carr's "Midnight Hour Blues," go serene and plaintive for "At the Fair," and swing much harder on "Blackey's Song," replete with whistling and Guy Fischetti's pedal steel. Gordon's daunting and darting feature is "My Blue Heaven," the best individual solo on the date, while the best overall number is the quickly paced "At the Track," holding the Dixie pulse at fever pitch courtesy of Cynthia Sayer's hot banjo and Johnson's bawdy tuba oompahs. Ecklund has a thinnish sound, not bold and brash a la Louis Armstrong or Bix, but reserved and refined, and sublimates his role for an overall group sound. This CD represents a good concept and execution of bringing '20s & '30s jazz into the '90s with players who know how. ~ Michael G.Nastos https://www.allmusic.com/album/gigs-reminiscing-in-music-mw0000054279

Personnel: Peter Ecklund (cornet, bugle); Dan Block (alto & baritone saxophones, clarinet); Howard Johnson (tuba); Ken Peplowski (clarinet); Jay Ungar (violin); Warren Bernhardt (Fender Rhodes piano); Steve Cardenas (acoustic & electric guitars); Madeleine Peyroux (acoustic guitar); Peter Davis (electric guitar, banjo); Molly Mason, Frank Vignola (guitar); David Grisman (mandolin); Greg Cohen, Pete Toigo (bass); Gary Burke (drums).

Gigs Reminiscing In Music

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David Grisman Quintet - Dawg's Groove

Styles: Mandolin
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:09
Size: 138,5 MB
Art: Front

( 6:54)  1. Limestones
( 5:09)  2. La Grande Guignole
( 7:18)  3. Ella McDonnell
( 5:48)  4. Zambola
( 6:31)  5. Tracy's Tune
( 5:22)  6. Dawg's Groove
( 5:17)  7. Cinderella's Fella
( 5:27)  8. My Friend Dawg
(12:17)  9. Blues For Vassar

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of creating his unique "Dawg Music," mandolinist David Grisman's long running quintet has one significant personnel change on this studio date for Dawg's Groove: the replacement of percussionist/fiddler/mandolinist Joe Craven (who launched a solo career) with the return of drummer George Marsh. Grisman's recordings have infrequently included a full drum kit, but Marsh's sensitive touch fits the leader's demands perfectly, though his explosive trade-offs in Grisman's opener "Limestones" prove he's not present just for background work. Marsh also contributed the tender ballad "Waltz for Lucy" (written in memory of his daughter). Grisman's superb musicianship seems to get even better over time, while he also wrote a number of new compositions for this session. Matt Eakle's playful flute remains a focal point and he composed the catchy, brisk samba "My Friend Dawg." Bassist Jim Kerwin, the longest tenured sideman in the quintet, along with guitarist Enrique Coria, a fine addition in 1994, also make important contributions to the Grisman sound. The closing track, "Blues for Vassar," is more of a sensitive waltz in tribute to the late fiddler Vassar Clements, who joined Grisman in various projects by Old & In the Way. Up to his usual tricks, the mandolinist adds a bonus untitled hidden track, as well. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/dawgs-groove-mw0000563287

Personnel:  David Grisman – mandolin, mandola;  George Marsh – drums, percussion;  Matt Eakle – flute, bass flute, tin whistle;  Enrique Coria - guitar, whistle;  Jim Kerwin – bass

Dawg's Groove

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David Grisman Quintet - Dawgwood

Styles: Mandolin
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:22
Size: 115,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:27)  1. Dawgwood
(6:41)  2. Dawgmatism
(5:35)  3. Jazzin' (with Joe-Bob)
(6:25)  4. Sea of Cortez
(6:44)  5. Steppin' with Stephane
(6:01)  6. Bolero de Django
(6:19)  7. Assanhado
(9:05)  8. New Dawg's Rag

David Grisman's self-named "Dawg" music defies traditional categories, as it is such a unique blend of many influences, including bluegrass, jazz, gypsy music, Latin, and so much more. He's joined by flutist Matt Eakle, percussionist and violinist Joe Craven, bassist Jim Kerwin, and guitarist Rick Montgomery. The veteran mandolinist wrote six of the eight songs, starting with the cheerful opener, which features everyone in turn. The intricate waltz "Dawgmatism" adds an exotic flavor with Craven's violin and Eakle's haunting flute. "Jazzin' (With Joe-Bob)" is a wild masterpiece (later appearing in slightly different form on his compilation DGQ-20 with jazz DJ Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins as "Jazzin' With Jazzbeaux"), with Craven providing percussion on bongos (and vocals with assorted hisses and comments) as well as overdubbing a slashing violin solo. "Steppin' With Stephane" was originally recorded by Grisman with its honoree, jazz violin great Stephane Grappelli. This version is lighter but every bit as swinging. "Bolero de Django," composed by Django Reinhardt, has a definite gypsy air, though Eakle's alto flute gives the piece a more modern flavor. "New Dawg's Rag" is an updated arrangement of an earlier Grisman chart; while the instrumentation has been changed, the impact of this brilliant performance is still pure magic. Throughout this release, Grisman's playing is nothing short of phenomenal. It should come as no surprise that fans of David Grisman should consider this CD an essential purchase. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/dawgwood-mw0000096725

Personnel:  David Grisman – mandolin;  Rick Montgomery – guitar;  Matt Eakle – flute;  Jim Kerwin – bass;  Joe Craven – percussion, violin

Dawgwood

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Mark O'Connor - On The Rampage

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:05
Size: 110.1 MB
Styles: Progressive bluegrass
Year: 1980/2016
Art: Front

[5:53] 1. Opus 1 Come Ride With Me
[4:55] 2. Opus 2 Mark's Ark
[4:18] 3. Opus 3 Midnight Interlude
[3:04] 4. Opus 4 On The Rampage
[5:07] 5. Opus 8 Ease With The Breeze
[5:42] 6. Opus 10 Rampology
[4:15] 7. Opus 7 The Dark Rain
[4:02] 8. Opus 5 Soft Gyrations
[3:45] 9. Opus 9 Tubular Explosions
[7:00] 10. Opus 6 Disco Fiddle Rampsody

Mark O'Connor was all of 17 years of age when he made On the Rampage in 1979 for Rounder, yet he was already a seasoned player attracting a lot of attention in the world of bluegrass. Overdubbing himself on violins and guitars, O'Connor shares no fewer that ten originals, which not only show a surprising maturity but demonstrate that he's a major player in stretching the supposed boundaries of bluegrass. Mark is unaccompanied for the haunting "Midnight Interlude," which consists solely of his multiply overdubbed instruments. It doesn't hurt to have veterans like mandolinist Sam Bush on hand, while both David Grisman and Tony Rice are added for the mellow "Ease With the Breeze." ~Ken Dryden

On The Rampage mc
On The Rampage zippy

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Tommy Emmanuel - Accomplice One

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:52
Size: 146.2 MB
Styles: Assorted guitar styles
Year: 2018
Art: Front

[3:27] 1. Deep River Blues (With Jason Isbell)
[3:21] 2. Song And Dance Man (With Ricky Skaggs)
[2:34] 3. Saturday Night Shuffle (With Jorma Kaukonen, Patbergeson)
[2:52] 4. Wheelin' & Dealin' (With J.D. Simo, Charlie Cushman)
[4:12] 5. C-Jam Blues (With David Grisman, Bryan Sutton)
[4:50] 6. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay (With J.D. Simo)
[5:19] 7. Borderline 9with Amanda Shines)
[2:51] 8. You Don't Want To Get You One Of Those (With Mark Knopfler)
[5:00] 9. Keepin' It Reel (With Clive Carroll)
[4:25] 10. Looking Forward To The Past (With Rodney Crowell)
[4:04] 11. Purple Haze (With Jerry Douglas)
[3:13] 12. Rachel's Lullaby (With Jake Shimabukuro)
[3:26] 13. Djangology (With Frank Vignola, Vinny Raaniolo)
[5:30] 14. Watson Blues (With David Grisman, Bryan Sutton)
[5:13] 15. Tittle Tattle (With Jack Pearson)
[3:26] 16. The Duke's Message (With Suzy Bogguss)

Accomplice One is a testament to Tommy’s musical diversity, the range of expression that stretches from authentic country-blues to face-melting rock shredding, by way of tender and devastating pure song playing. The songs are a mix of new takes on indelible classics and brand new originals from Tommy and his collaborators. The artists who stepped forward to join Tommy in the studio are an impressive list of some of today’s most respected performers, from across the musical spectrum.

"Confession time – I’m not usually a fan of multiple collaborator type albums. Too often they strike me as a marketing wheeze in which the guest artists add little to the equation. Fair play to acoustic guitar man Tommy Emmanuel though, on Accomplice One he’s taken advantage of guests toting a variety of instruments to explore a wide range of musical styles.

What this means though, is that your response to the material is liable to be very much a matter of personal taste. So for my part the jet-propelled bluegrassy picking on “Wheelin & Dealin’”, featuring banjo from Charlie Cushman and electric guitar from JD Simo, is a winner. Likewise the rattling Celtic folk of “Keepin’ It Reel”, with Clive Carroll. On a different note, the Americana ballad-styled reading of Madonna’s “Borderline”, colored by Amanda Shires’ fiddle and vocals, takes on an aching quality. And in another vein entirely, “Purple Haze” is a launchpad for a rousingly steely instrumental adventure with Jerry Douglas on Dobro.

On the other hand, the duet of “Song And Dance Man” with Ricky Scaggs, and “Looking Forward To The Past” with Rodney Crowell, are country songs with the kind of cloyingly maudlin lyrics that do the genre no favors, though at least the latter musters some chugging energy. Meanwhile if you like gypsy jazz then “Djangology” and a hornless version of Duke Ellington’s “C-Jam Blues”, may well float your boat. But they leave me cold, as does the sleepy duet with Mark Knopfler on “You Don’t Want To Get You One Of Those,” whose lyric about a beat-up automobile appears to be a shoddy metaphor for a woman past her best.

The balance of the 16 tracks are satisfying enough to differing degrees, including an affectionate cover of “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” with Simo on vocals, and a rendition of “Watson’s Blues” that puts me pleasantly in mind of Samantha Fish’s take on “Jim Lee Blues Part 1”. And the musicianship is top notch throughout of course, so if you’re an acoustic roots aficionado, Accomplice One is probably right up your street. But to a wider audience it’s likely to be a pick’n’mix affair." ~Iain Cameron

Accomplice One mc
Accomplice One zippy

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David Grisman, Frank Vignola - Frank 'n' Dawg

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:47
Size: 109.4 MB
Styles: Jazz guitar/mandolin
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[2:53] 1. Till There Was You
[4:11] 2. Hello Young Lovers
[3:02] 3. Wouldn't It Be Loverly
[3:59] 4. Stardust
[3:42] 5. April Showers
[3:50] 6. Margie
[3:22] 7. Where Or When
[4:09] 8. Flamingo
[3:04] 9. As Time Goes By
[2:52] 10. We Kiss In The Shadow
[3:11] 11. For All We Know
[3:55] 12. Georgia
[3:10] 13. These Foolish Things
[2:19] 14. Someday My Prince Will Come

This CD is odd but rather wonderful. It's ONLY Frank Vignola and David Grisman--no back up band. They are playing wonderful songs. What is both odd and wonderful is that they trade off solos on every song, but their solos are almost entirely playing the melody of the songs. No flights of fancy. Just beautiful melodies with wonderful clarity and tone. I was studying with Grisman a couple weeks ago at the Mandolin Symposium. He is certainly capable of playing solos that have only a little bit to do with the melody, and he is capable of wild flights of notes. Same with Vignola. But here the melody is their master. It's refreshing and a delight. If you love these songs, you'll probably love this CD. If you primarily want to study these guys at their most complicated, look elsewhere. I love this. It was nice of them to put the melody first. ~Bill Pen

Frank Vignola and David Grisman have been friends and musical cohorts for years, and the time had come for them to collaborate on a special collection of acoustic duet performances of some of their favorite melodies from the Great American Songbook. Remarkably, these 14 tunes were all chosen, arranged and recorded (live to 2-track analog) in one day. Frank'n'Dawg are both great admirers of melody and wanted that to be the focus of this project - without sacrificing either spontaneity or groove. These finely-crafted melodies are once again reborn as mandolin-guitar duets, both timeless and timely.

Frank 'n' Dawg mc
Frank 'n' Dawg zippy

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Tommy Emmanuel & David Grisman - Pickin'

Size: 104,7 MB
Time: 44:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz, Folk, Bluegrass
Art: Front

01. Zorro's Last Ride (3:11)
02. Cinderella's Fella (3:21)
03. Cgp & Dawg (4:51)
04. Farm & Fun Time (3:09)
05. Newly Wedding (4:38)
06. Sweet Georgia Brown (3:51)
07. Standing Rock (3:52)
08. Dawg's Waltz (3:43)
09. Tipsy Gypsy (3:14)
10. Tracy's Tune (5:20)
11. Port Townsend Blues (3:08)
12. Waltzing Matilda (2:18)

It’s exciting to review two preeminent musicians in their first-ever collaboration, Pickin‘, on Acoustic Disc. Tommy Emmanuel shows why he has been named one of only five Certified Guitar Players (CGP) by the late master himself, Chet Atkins, with his mixture of Jazz, Blues, Bluegrass, Folk and Rock. David “Dawg” Grisman continues to be the premiere player of Dawg Music with his unique combination of Bluegrass, Jazz and Folk on the mandolin.

The pair have never played together before, but with almost 100 albums between them, they understand how to put together a record that their fans will listen to over and over. Music lovers and musicians of all genres will enjoy the music created by these two and will be amazed at the combined talent of the duo and how they make intricate music look easy.

The 12-song album immediately sets an energetic tone with “Zorro’s Last Stand.” Dawg’s skillful mandolin picking creates sounds that ignite images of a bluegrass swashbuckler in action.

Emmanuel and Grisman complement each other well in “Cinderella’s Fella.” The beginning has an old movie soundtrack vibe before switching to a full sound that highlights Tommy’s distinct fingerpicking style.

The next song, “CGP & Dawg,” written specifically for this pairing, is a jam that shows why Chet Atkins bestowed the honor of CGP upon Emmanuel. With a thumb to play one line and fingers to play bass, chords and melodies, his dexterity is astounding. Tommy and Dawg take turns trying to out-pick each other in this unforgettable arrangement.

“Farm & Fun Time” elicits thoughts of a rural family going into town on the weekend as the light-hearted music soothes any residual cares from a hard work-week. Tommy’s snare-brush technique creates an additional texture. The laughter between the two musicians is contagious and shows how well they mesh.


Dawg’s intricate mandolin notes on “Newly Wedding” feeds the soul. Tommy’s virtuosic fretwork has the sound of an entire string band backing Grisman’s touching composition in one of many highlights on Pickin’.

Emmanuel’s sustaining notes offer a tease as to what is coming next. He switches gears into an up-tempo version of “Sweet Georgia Brown” with individual notes in between the two-finger harmony. Dawg (the nickname given to him by Jerry Garcia) picks a blistering mandolin riff.

“Standing Rock” is another new song that sounds like an entire blues band. Grisman battles it out on the mandolin while Emmanuel plays lead, melody and slaps the guitar body for a percussive effect. The level of talent shows through once again.

Emmanuel takes the lead in “Tipsy Gypsy” with a beat that gets you out of your seat. He plays three notes at once with his Travis picking style, (named for the great, Merle Travis.) The laughter between the two again reveals how much fun they have when playing together.

“Tracy’s Tune” is quite personal to Dawg as it’s an instrumental love letter to his wife. It’s both subdued with prolific picking–a true testament of talent. Each master musician plays lead while the other complements him with backing notes that mesmerize.

The penultimate song, “Port Townsend Blues,” is a jam that would be a great closing song for a live concert. Dawg’s nimble picking grooves along with Tommy’s finger play that emulates an electric guitar’s tremolo system with his harmonic progressions. Saying, “It rocks,” is an understatement.

Unfortunately, the album has to end, but you can’t go wrong with an Australian beer-drinking song. “Waltzing Matilda” is a well-known classic, but has a unique take with these two masters. Fiery fingering on the mandolin and acoustic guitar urge you to hit “play” again.

“Pickin” is an album you’ll want to add to your collection. ~By David Simers

Pickin'

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David Grisman, Frank Vignola, Robin Nolan, Michael Papillo - The Living Room Sessions

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:53
Size: 125.7 MB
Styles: Gypsy jazz
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[6:10] 1. Claire De Lune
[5:38] 2. Black Orpheus
[4:03] 3. September Song
[8:17] 4. Sway With Me
[6:54] 5. Dawg's Waltz
[5:34] 6. Swing Gitan
[6:51] 7. Tears
[7:21] 8. Premier Guitar
[4:02] 9. Autumn Leaves

Ever wonder what it's like to be sitting in a living room feet away from master acoustic instrumentalists jamming on a Saturday afternoon? Well now is your chance. David Grisman, Frank Vignola, Michael Papillo and gypsy guitarist, Robin Nolan enjoyed a spontaneous afternoon of jamming in Seattle so we all decided to bring in a recording crew and capture the unbelievable music that went on this special day!

The Living Room Sessions

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Various - Swing & Jazz Collection Vol. 1

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:44
Size: 120.7 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz, Swing
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[3:29] 1. The George Barnes Quartet - Sweet Georgia Brown
[7:52] 2. Jerry Garcia - Milestones
[3:42] 3. Matt Eakle - Gran's Blues
[2:43] 4. Hal Blaine - Jazz Bop
[3:50] 5. Don Stiernberg - Moonlight In Vermont
[3:59] 6. Martin Taylor - I'm Beginning To See The Light
[2:43] 7. Svend Asmussen - My Blue Heaven
[4:36] 8. Tiny Moore - Back To Back
[2:46] 9. Frank Vignola - Limehouse Blues
[6:23] 10. David Grisman Quintet - Jazzin' With Jazzbeaux
[2:55] 11. Oscar Alemán - Russian Lullaby
[7:40] 12. Stephane Grappelli - Exploration

This first collection of swing & jazz performances from the archives of Acoustic Disc and Acoustic Oasis offers a broad sampling of improvisational styles and the musicians that created them, from Oscar Aleman's classic rendition of "Russian Lullaby" (which inspired Jerry Garcia) to Garcia's own take on Miles Davis' "Milestones."

Other highlights include historic cuts by string-jazz masters Svend Asmussen, Jethro Burns and Tiny Moore and some truly unique tracks - "Exploration I" by violin legend Stephane Grappelli, showcasing his rarely-heard piano mastery and a special guest appearance by the legendary Al "Jazzbo" Collins rapping along with the David Grisman Quintet. If you like swing and jazz, treat yourself to this amazing collection.

Swing & Jazz Collection Vol. 1

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Martin Taylor, David Grisman, Acoustic Jazz Quartet - I'm Beginning to See the Light

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:33
Size: 136.4 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz, Crossover jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[3:59] 1. I'm Beginning to See the Light
[4:21] 2. Autumn Leaves
[5:10] 3. Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans
[4:42] 4. East of the Sun
[4:39] 5. Autumn in New York
[5:43] 6. Makin' Whoopee
[5:25] 7. Lover Man
[4:01] 8. Exactly Like You
[7:04] 9. Willow Weep for Me
[4:18] 10. A Foggy Day
[5:08] 11. Cheek to Cheek
[4:59] 12. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

As one of the prime movers behind the "new acoustic" movement that began gathering speed in the mid-'70s, David Grisman helped usher in a new era of acoustic jazz. With other renegade players like Tony Rice, Richard Greene and Sam Bush, he took an instrument generally associated with bluegrass music (in his case, the mandolin) and turned it to more adventurous uses, often combining the instrumentation and textures of bluegrass with the advanced harmonic structures and rhythms of jazz. He's never completely turned his back on bluegrass, but his primary focus has been on jazz and jazz-derived styles for some time. I'm Beginning to See the Light is a collection of standards recorded in collaboration with guitarist Martin Taylor, bassist Jim Kerwin and drummer George Marsh. The program is pretty predictable, including "Autumn Leaves," "Cheek to Cheek," and "Makin' Whoopee." But the mandolin gives the quartet an unusual texture, and Taylor's playing is always fun to listen to. There's a pervasive gentleness to the group's sound that sometimes borders on soporific, but every time you stir yourself to listen closely, you'll be rewarded. Recommended. ~Rick Anderson

I'm Beginning to See the Light

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David Grisman Bluegrass Experience - Muddy Roads

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:01
Size: 142.0 MB
Styles: Bluegrass
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[2:01] 1. Muddy Roads (Old Time)
[2:21] 2. The Train That Carried My Gal
[4:22] 3. The Lone Pilgrim
[4:30] 4. Walkin' Boss
[2:58] 5. Handsome Molly
[3:50] 6. Willie Moore
[3:10] 7. The Cuckoo Bird
[3:51] 8. I'll Rise When The Rooster Crows
[6:22] 9. Omie Wise
[3:05] 10. The Roving Gambler
[3:44] 11. Crawdad
[5:04] 12. Trouble In Mind
[3:25] 13. Blue Ridge Mountain Blues
[4:13] 14. Shady Grove
[6:00] 15. Your Long Journey
[2:58] 16. Muddy Roads

In 2013, Grisman unveiled Muddy Roads by the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience with his longstanding bluegrass band of Jim Nunally on guitar, Keith Little on banjo, Chad Manning on fiddle, and his son Samson Grisman on bass. Muddy Roads presents 16 songs from the field recordings that Ralph Rinzler had brought home in the early ’60s, sharing them with his young understudy. These historical recordings introduced the world to the music of Clarence Ashley and Doc Watson, together with some of their neighbors. David dedicates Muddy Roads to their memory, also paying homage to the life and work of Rinzler.

Muddy Roads

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