Interestingly, when Bill Monroe was asked who the best tenor singer was replied, "Ain't but two, and Ira's dead." That quote doesn't call what the Louvin's did bluegrass, but it is interesting that Bill noted Ira's incredible harmonies.
Bluegrass is a lot like whiskey. There are many different kinds of whiskey, you have scotch, bourbon, blended canadian, tennessee whiskey, Rye and a few more I'm forgetting but it all belongs in the same basic category. Same thing with Bluegrass. It can be traditional, progressive, gospel, folk, newgrass and even pop. Just because I love bourbon doesn't mean that scotch cannot be whiskey. It's a big tent.
I envy you ! I guess you understand my message. Here in the Netherlands musical cathegory's are very defined. I have been bluegrass fan since the fifties, only saw Bill Monroe, Dell McCoury, and many contemporary artist's. ....The real thing long gone. Enjoy your music.
And really, really, really stretching it is The Jazz Mandolin Project. I think the group name gives it away (and there is a drummer)
I'm sorry, I must have slipped through a wormhole and ended up in a heavy metal thread. Here's my contribution: The hills are alive with the sound of Jewgrass
I'm not sure if this counts as Bluegrass, there seems to be 2 guitars, mandolin, fiddle, and electric bass?
I think this was only released in Japan. New to me today by way of a good buddy on the forum. It's sounds great. @Jerry have you ever seen this one before?
Never saw that one! This looks like an alternative album: I bought a short while ago the 2 cd version from JD's master vinyl copy: Available here: J. D. CROWE AND THE NEW SOUTH 'Holiday in Japan' - CountySales.com
Although I always feel like Fennario is somewhere in New England, or maybe the old Northwest, this sounds like bluegrass to me:
A newly bought favorite, The Country Gentlemen "Good As Gold". Superb performances, and awesome Bias Studios engineering with Ted McElroy engineering, Masterfonics cut it, and one of the superb Sugar Hill albums.
Yonder Mountain String Band does a music festival in Oregon every year that is fantastic. This year there is a free webcast over four days. I highly recommend checking it out. Jamgrass.tv
The recording quality is paradigmatic and the music brilliant. I just wish Doc weren't as enamored with his voice talking as I am with it when he's singing. Honestly, that 30-60 seconds of chatter between a significant percentage of tracks becomes entirely problematic. Thankfully, and except for set openers, the talk is included on the backend of each track so you can forward to the next as soon as the music ends. This works in the vehicle's cd player, but means I likely won't load it onto the ipod for runs and biking, which is disappointing. I imagine if you just pull a disc off the shelf every (or stream the same) once in awhile this wouldn't be too big a deal. Really look forward to future issues of Bear's Sonic Journals!
Thanks for posting that one. I downloaded what was available on Amazon and loved it so much I bought the record today off discogs. I can't wait to get it. That lineup of the New South is amazing
The sound quality is amazing, creepy quite for a live show. I do believe the boys were a bit drunk for the performance, they really ham it up for a crowd that has no idea what they're saying