Crucial Country

 (4 customer reviews)

This is a very special album. Sam Bush on mandolin and Jerry Douglas on resonator guitar are masters of their instruments. Usually that means deft noodlers trying to outshine whatever setting they are in. Not in the world these players inhabit. The music taking shape now, coming out of the best of the Bluegrass, acoustic Blues and Folk traditions, values players who can collaborate as well as lead. Here they fall in behind the conjuror that is Peter Rowan and do his bidding like jennies summoned from a lamp. Much of this is state of the art stuff. I think that Peter can get carried away with the imagery sometimes. The invocation of Elvis in the introduction to Rainmaker is a little over the top. And I find Tumbleweed comes off like a magician telegraphing his next trick. But "Deal With The Devil", "Walls of Time", "Panama Red", "Land of the Navajo"...even if you've heard other, classic performances of them...here they show the indomitable power that a band, driven by master...Read more

After every Sunday lunch - all afternoon - at my grandparents, grandmother played classical music and opera. Her musical training, their generation. By the mid-60's it was the soul music, Dick Clark / Shindig TV shows and AM radio "hits" after school. Summers @ my NC camp it was all manner of folk music, counselors with guitars and Indian chants. Segue to Jr & Sr Hi School & College it was all manner of soul music, rock, blues & R&B. Yes this included Poco, Seatrain and other country rock oriented albums. It was not until I picked up MuleSkinner Blues in 1973, that I really came to embrace "the Rowan style" of American bluegrass music.

From his influence on all genres of music to his evocative writing style, Peter Rowan IS HEARTLAND AMERICA history making music!! Yes, on this CD he is surrounded by phenomenal talent / great musicians all (Larry Atamanuik is THE BEST Slap/Travellin' drummer in the biz). One can put all the talent one wants to on a stage, yet if the the...Read more

I saw most of these songs in Peter's set at the 2010 Telluride festival ... absolutely excellent jammmmmmsss ... recording brings back the memory of being there, which I must do again someday--what a great venue.