Best "newgrass" albums?

[kmiller1610]

While I do also love bluegrass, for me the harder to find albums are the instrumental newgrass albums that are energetic and original. There must be some folks here who know ones that I don't know of.... These are some of my favorites.

The original David Grisman album from 1971 (I know this is Dawg music more than Newgrass, but you get the idea...)

The Tony Rice Unit Spacegrass Albums: Have only heard the one cut from Tony's bluegrass guitar album; Wish they'd release these on CD.

Thile from "Stealing Second" through "Not all who wander"

Mike Marshall's "Gator Strut"

The two instrumental cuts from Sierra Hull's new album...

John Reischman's "North of the Border" though it's a bit low key for my taste

Psychograss: ditto the Reischman album

Anyone have any other suggestions?

[Fretbear]

"Commonwealth", Newgrass Revival's last album with Curtis Burch and Courtney Johnson.

[AlanN]

One LP that is un-sung and to my ears brought the jazz into bluegrass was Slim Richey's Jazz Grass, 1975 or so, on RidgeRunner. Melded bluegrassers on standard jazz tunes - Sam Bush, Skaggs on fiddle, Bill Keith on 5 banger, Slim on lead guitar, Joe Carr on very hip mandolin lines, and a dobro. It sounds a bit dated, but is certainly cool. This recording paved the way for much to come after.

The first NGR record (Starday) with Prince of Peace, Great Balls of Fire did a lot to bring the newgrass into bluegrass.

Grisman's Rounder Record was a watershed event (1976, I think). And a minor correction - the first Quintet record was released in February, 1977.

[Bob Wiegers]

Bela Fleck's "Drive" is essential

[TMitchell]

Fleck's later "Bluegrass Sessions" Acoustic Planet disc has a lot of the same players as "Drive," plus guest tracks with Earl Scruggs and John Hartford. One of my desert island CDs, for certain.

Also, Chris Thile's "Not All Who Wander Are Lost."

[Phillip Tigue]

"Commonwealth", Newgrass Revival's last album with Curtis Burch and Courtney Johnson.

I believe Leon Russell appeared on that one as well.

[Ken_P]

Here's my standard list of essential acoustic albums, all on CD as far as I know:

"Drive" - Bela Fleck
Strength in Numbers
"Skip, Hop, and Wobble" - Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Russ Barenberg
"Uncommon Ritual" - Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Mike Marshall
"Bluegrass Sessions" - Bela Fleck (same lineup as "Drive")
"Short Trip Home" - Edgar Meyer
"Not All Who Wander Are Lost" - Chris Thile

If you enjoy some of the more classically influenced music from that list, then both of Chris Thile's albums from last year, one with Punch Brothers, one with Edgar Meyer, are both worth having. I think they're brilliant, but they might not be for everyone.

[bienkow1]

Greensky Bluegrass "Five Interstates"

If you haven't already, check these guys' out. Michigan's finest.

[mandolooter]

I really like these fella's from N.C. - Brushfire Stankgrass

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndID=105577612

Brushfire Stankgrass has some kickin free live shows to dpwnload here...

http://www.archive.org/search.php?qu...0Stankgrass%22

[mandopete]

The Tony Rice Unit Spacegrass Albums: Have only heard the one cut from Tony's bluegrass guitar album; Wish they'd release these on CD.

I have a CD titled "Devlin" which is actually Mar West and Still Inside sort of combined. I think it's still available from Rounder.

For some good Dawg stuff see if you can find Dawg Grass/Dawg Jazz - I still have it on vinyl. Also check out Joe Page's "Alaska Mando" - you won't be disappointed.

Also check out Strength In Numbers.

[SternART]

Here are some fine instrumental CD's not mentioned:
In The Pines / Todd Phillips
Matt Flinner's first solo album (with Anger-Marshall et al)
Flinner, Grier, and Phillips - both CD's
Chad Manning's first CD (with Anger-Marshall et al)
Markology / Mark O'Conner
Buellgrass / Buell Neidlinger
Flatbush Waltz /Andy Statman

[kmiller1610]

Grisman's Rounder Record was a watershed event (1976, I think). And a minor correction - the first Quintet record was released in February, 1977.

Of course..... and to the others, I do have some of the titles listed, but have never heard of many of the others. So 1,000 thanks!

[mandopete]

Buellgrass / Buell Neidlinger

Hey Art - I just ran across that one yesterday when I was going through the vinyl at the radio station. That one is a classic!

You gonna be at Wintergrass this year?

[lgc]

Country Cookin's instrumental album.

[mandopete]

I'm surprised that this gem has not come up yet....

[SternART]

Sadly Mandopete......No Wintergrass this year for me......I'm saving my money for the Mandolin Symposium.

[kjell]

There's an record with Norman Blake, Tut Taylor, Sam Bush, Butch Robins, Vassar Clements, David Holland, Jethro Burns playing some incredible jazzy-bluegrass stuff, might give it a look. It's awesome. Here's a webpage discussing it.

Also, Thile & co's second newest CD ("How to grow a woman…") has some tracks that compare pretty well with "Not all who wander." It's definitely not as far out as the newest Punch Brothers stuff.

I've really been enjoying David Grisman and Sam Bush's "Hold On, We're Strummin" lately as well.

[mandolirius]

<There's an record with Norman Blake, Tut Taylor, Sam Bush, Butch Robins, Vassar Clements, David Holland, Jethro Burns playing some incredible jazzy-bluegrass stuff, might give it a look.>

Yeah, also known as the "Hank Deane" sessions. It's from 1975. Kind of an unusual release...independently produced by Deane but distributed by Flying Fish.

Great to hear a couple of my old faves mentioned - Slim Ritchey's "Jazzgrass" and Buell Neidlinger's "Buellgrass". There's also a great Joe Carr guitar album called "Otter Nonsense" which generally flys under the newgrass radar.

[Gutbucket]

The StringDusters play some great instrumentals on their 2 c.d's. They mix it up between traditional and "New Grass".

[Michael Ramsey]

While I do also love bluegrass, for me the harder to find albums are the instrumental newgrass albums that are energetic and original. There must be some folks here who know ones that I don't know of.... These are some of my favorites.

The original David Grisman album from 1971 (I know this is Dawg music more than Newgrass, but you get the idea...)

The Tony Rice Unit Spacegrass Albums: Have only heard the one cut from Tony's bluegrass guitar album; Wish they'd release these on CD.

Thile from "Stealing Second" through "Not all who wander"

Mike Marshall's "Gator Strut"

The two instrumental cuts from Sierra Hull's new album...

John Reischman's "North of the Border" though it's a bit low key for my taste

Psychograss: ditto the Reischman album

Anyone have any other suggestions?

I'm kinda partial to the instrumental tunes as performed by Mountain Heart.

[Tbone]

Anything Matt Flinner - someone recommended his first album, but IMO, his second is much better. The third (Walking on the Moon) is good too, if you can handle the elec guitar & bass & drums.

I've got a download from Frank Vignola featuring matt flinner and casey driessen that's pretty killer.

Also, bands like Old School Freight Train, South Austin Jug Band, etc, are considered pretty newgrass.

[kmiller1610]

I'm kinda partial to the instrumental tunes as performed by Mountain Heart.

Don't they do a song called Pronto or something like that. I heard it on woodsongs and it was pretty much newgrass. Great Song!

[LVH]

Sam Bush-Glamour and Grits

Chris Thile-Punch, How to grow a woman from the ground, why should the fire die, and the best of nickel creek. How amazing is that live version of the fox?

[viv]

[QUOTE]

Sam Bush-Glamour and Grits

OH YEAH, baby--what HE said to the nth power!

personally, i love me some new grass revival..."on the boulevard" has some great tracks, but one of my favorite ngr tunes is "deeper and deeper".

might wanna check out john cowan's "new tattoo" record as well--outstanding collection of tunes on that one.

[LVH]

[QUOTE=viv;621656]

OH YEAH, baby--what HE said to the nth power!

I'm currently learning Stingray note for note............. Get back to me in ten years