Breakdown: Original Live Recordings 1973 Vol. II

Many folks are initially suspect of Old & In the Way's authenticity considering the group includes Jerry Garcia. Let there be no doubts of Garcia's bluegrass integrity (personally, I think he should have played more bluegrass.) Garcia introduced a whole new generation of folks to bluegrass...and most of them probably would not have heard it otherwise. That being said...onto the music review.

This is truly an all-star lineup: Vassar Clements! David Grisman, Peter Rowan & John Kahn round out the lineup. This amazing set of 19 tunes includes many classics like Bill Monroe's "Pig in a Pen," "Workin' On a Building." It includes the Rolling Stones "Wild Horses," which the group makes sound like a true bluegrass tune (this is no gimmick.) The playing is clean and tight. Also, this is the way bluegrass should be heard...LIVE! This music is ultimately learned in an oral tradition and from watching and jamming with others. Sure you can learn from...Read more

I guess I was always aware of Bluegrass growing up, as my grandparents would always gather round the TV to watch Bill Monroe wail away on his mandolin but it wasn't until I started to explore Jerry Garcia's side projects that I realized how intricate and complex this music is, not to mention how talented the musicians are. From the opening introduction by Pete Rowan through old classics like the signature Panama Red, Working On A Building, and Pig in a Pen to an amazing rendition of the Rolling Stones' Wild Horses this album is a winner. As you listen to it you can't help but think that these guys are sitting on your portch in rocking chairs. It is an excellent recording that captures the essence of the work of this excursion in the mid seventies. If I could urge every Deadhead out there to learn one more thing about Jerry Garcia, it would be to appreciate his love for Bluegrass and Folk music. He has certainly done me a favour by introducing it to me. Also, check out Old &...Read more

Pianist Bruce Hornsby once asserted that his favorite musics were bluegrass and jazz. Asked if that seemed like a disparate pair of choices, he commented that both emphasize precision musicianship and tight ensemble play. This bluegrass leans a bit toward the jazz side of the fence. A superficial listening might lead you to believe this is straight bluegrass, but start concentrating on the individual musicians, and there is a lot more going on than first meets the ears. The real star here is fiddle player Vassar Clements, who magically embellishes mightily on the melodic line without seeming to do so. Like the best jazz, the more carefully you listen, the more that is revealed. Just gets better with repeat play. Desert island CD for sure. Better sound quality and better and more material than either the companion "High Lonesome Sound" or the Rycodisk distillation of the two.