Well, I posted this question under the mike marshall thread, but I know there are a lot of knowledgeable people around here, so I figure i would open it up to the general public.
Also, I guess to be more specific about the kind of music i am thinking about:Similar to an above post about mandolins and formal education, I am currently doing a self designed major at college that is centered around your kind of music.
1.) If one were to come up with a blanket term to describe the music of you and your contemporaries, what might it be? bluegrass, newgrass, progressive bluegrass, new acoustic music? I feel as though a lot of names are thrown around that are either too vague or to specific to really catch hold of the instrumental bluegrass ensemble that doesn't play straight ahead grass and branches into jazz, Choro, rock, etc. etc.
2.) Seeing as I am trying to center my education around this above mentioned kind of music, I have been relying heavily on albums, live concerts, and the rare internet article or interview. I feel as though beyond Monroe, there aren't any real tomes of information about all you great musicians that have been doing crazy for decades. Is there anything out there that I am missing? Any suggestions that may help me further my education in the field?
I guess I am thinking about the supergroup style albums and concerts with Sam Bush, David Grisman, Mike Marshall, Chris Thile, Bela Fleck, Tony Trischka, Jerry Douglas, Vassar Clements, Stuart Duncan, Mark O'Connor, Mark Schatz, Tony Rice, and some others that arent coming to mind.
Next semester I am going to be doing an independent study on bela fleck's Tales From The Acoustic Planet: Bluegrass Sessions, and must admit there isn't much literature behind these guys.
Any help, story, suggestion, and tidbit big or small will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Baron
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