The Three Pickers

Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson and Ricky Skaggs team up on what has to be as good as bluegrass music gets. You will play this one again and again. This hauntingly beautiful CD reminded me once again that most of the so-called music coming out of Nashville today masquerading as "country" and/or "bluegrass" is pure (junk). No tight jeans and cowboy hats here. Just first class music.

The pickers play a lot of older songs: "What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul," "Who Will Sing For Me," "Soldier's Joy," "The Storms Are On The Ocean," "Foggy Mountain Top," "Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms." These men are as good as pickers get. Having Alison Krauss join them on some of the cuts only makes this CD better.

Difficult as it is to pick a favorite, I would probably vote for "Down In The Valley To Pray." Doc Watson begins this hymn, as simple and pure as your grandmother's pound cake, and is then joined by the voices of Skaggs and Scruggs, along with Krauss, in an a capella arrangement that...Read more

When I was learning how to play the guitar some 25 years ago, I was immediately drawn to bluegrass music. The earthy, humble appeal of so many of its performers, as well as the precision demanded to play it well, instantly captivated me and made me a lifelong bluegrass fan. This deceptively simple music, rendered by three giants in the field, is timelessly represented here on the Three Pickers CD.
By including the ambience of the crowd, and the fascinating stories told by the three pickers themselves, the producers of this CD have given us the experience of being in the audience watching the music being performed live. The audio quality is excellent. The selection of classic bluegrass tunes by Bill Monroe and the Carter Family add to the timeless appeal of the CD. I especially like the upbeat numbers like "Ridin' that midnight train" and "Roll in my sweet baby's arms". Only decades of virtuoso playing experience can enable someone to pull off licks like these guys do. By...Read more

It has been years since I have listened to bluegrass. Recently I listened to Nickel Creek's excellent self-titled CD, and was very impressed. Then I switched to the more traditional American bluegrass of this album. The "three pickers" are Earl Scruggs, 79 years old and playing banjo, Doc Watson, 80 years old and playing guitar, and Ricky Scaggs, at 49 years old the youngest member of trio and playing mandolin. While these three men are not just pretty faces (they really are not), they are incredible artists, both instrumentally and vocally. They are also joined by various guests, most especially Alison Krause, who sings and plays violin.

I almost felt as though I was listening to early Grand Old Opry, because the Opry frequently featured bluegrass, and this bluegrass is some of the best available. Excluding the four spoken introductions, there are 19 superb instrumentals and songs that are sure to delight anyone who enjoys this uniquely American style of music...Read more