Hey I was wondering if you fellas had some suggestions (outside of the obvious Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer) about good bluegrass groups to listen to. I've been meaning to extend my repertoire to this area, and I'm probably going to have a bluegrass band lined up in the fall and wanted to listening material to study I guess. Thanks!

~Craig

The Nashville Bluegrass Band, 'Unleashed'
Open Road, 'Lucky Drive'
The Del McCoury Band
Psychograss
Rhonda Vincent, 'Ragin' Live'

Jake

I would love to subscribe to this thread, as I have exactly the same question! Anybody know how I do that?

Two personal favorites of mine are:
Tony Rice Unit--Manzanita
Ricky Skaggs--Bluegrass Rules

Both these artists have been around a loong time so the have an extensive discography.
Since bluegrass styles vary dramatically I'd also recommend going online to wdvx.com
It is a commercial-free radio station with online streaming. Its possible to hear a little bit of everything.

Have fun!

All the above suggestions are good. There was a series of all-star type recordings made in the '70s and '80s by The Bluegrass Album Band. They covered lots of old classic tunes with top-shelf players, and the recording quality is great. They're numbered sequentially, and you can still get them on Amazon.com, etc. They are a GREAT intro to the genre.

Ahem:

BILL MONROE
The Stanley Brothers
Flatt & Scruggs
Jimmy Martin

Another idea. Back in 1970 a seminal country/bluegrass album came out (more country than bluegrass, really, but bluegrass is country music after all; it's the bebop of country music.) It was hippie meets redneck for the first time. I'm referring to the totally classic double album "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?". It came out under the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band name and they're all on it, but so is Roy Acuff, Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Jimmy Martin and a bunch of other old-timers I've forgotten.

Don't bother with volumes 2 and 3 under the same name. The first record is timeless and classic; the second two definitely aren't.

Ahem:

BILL MONROE
The Stanley Brothers
Flatt & Scruggs
Jimmy Martin

+1000.

All of the performers listed in this thread are good, but Damon's list is a beginning for those who want to *know* bluegrass music in their guts. Those are the giants.

Go to the roots - 1945 is the year Bluegrass was born when Earl Scruggs joined Bill Monroe's band - and THEN branch out.

I might add The Osborne Brothers and Jim and Jesse, two acts which continued to refine bluegrass in the 50s and 60s.

Ahem:

BILL MONROE
The Stanley Brothers
Flatt & Scruggs
Jimmy Martin

I agree that these guys are the giants of the genre...BUT...in my opinion, they sometimes aren't the greatest intro to the style...especially for a bassist. Two reasons: first, the bass playing on some of these old recordings is either non-existent in the mix, or just really not that good. Second (and I have experienced this many times), Bill and Jimmy's vocals tend to scare the crap out of new listeners. I mean, face it...these guys are the kings, but an acquired taste. That's the only reason I like to introduce folks to the more accessible stuff first and then let 'em dig into the roots.

Flatt & Scruggs are great for anyone though. Generally a few notches above Bill's stuff, IMO. I am speaking in terms of bass playing and recording quality, mind you.

Ahem:

BILL MONROE
The Stanley Brothers
Flatt & Scruggs
Jimmy Martin

My apologies for not mentioning these, esp. Monroe and Flatt and Scruggs. Flatt and Scruggs were my intro to Bluegrass.

Love the old stuff, but agree, usually better to start newbies out on the more modern sounds, smoother vocals, modern production values.
Check out:
Blue Highway
Mountain Heart
Lonesome River Band
The Gibson Brothers

Some slightly older stuff:
The Bluegrass Cardinals
Seldome Scene

For those who like a little rock n roll with their grass, don't forget the Newgrass Revival.


Also don't forget the classic JD Crowe and the New South Rounder album from the 70s.

I recommend getting hold of some Kentucky Colonels CDs. Appalachian Swing is all diamond in the rough instrumental and Long Journey Home contains live cuts. The bass cuts through well on both discs.

If you're looking more "bluegrass/country" on a recent release, try the Patty Loveless release Mountain Soul. You'll hear some good ghost note style on Daniel Prayed and Pretty Little Miss.

Second (and I have experienced this many times), Bill and Jimmy's vocals tend to scare the crap out of new listeners. I mean, face it...these guys are the kings, but an acquired taste. That's the only reason I like to introduce folks to the more accessible stuff first and then let 'em dig into the roots.


Believe me, I've seen the fear too.

I dug Bill Monroe from the first note I heard out of him.

The other thing a newcomer could do is go to a good festival or two. Hear some good music, eat some good food, do some pickin' if you're so inclined.

The other thing a newcomer could do is go to a good festival or two. Hear some good music, eat some good food, do some pickin' if you're so inclined.

Probably the single most important thing to develop a taste for bluegrass.

I second all the Flatt and Scruggs recommendations. If you want to give someone an initial exposure, they are the best. Drive, vocals, instrumentation--they had it all. Later on get into Bill, Jimmy, and the modern boys.

I love the observation about Bill and Jimmy's singing. They still give me the willies on occasion!

James King, IIIrd Tyme Out, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. For the old stuff, Mac Wiseman.

I'd recomming looking for "compilation" albums - Time / Life has a couple.

People might laugh at me for saying this, but check out some of Dolly Parton's more recent stuff. She did an album where she did the song "Shine" by Collective Soul, and she had a top-flight band.

Under no circumstances should you buy David Lee Roth's new bluegrass album, though. Great playing by fine musicians, then Roth comes in and sings all these old Van Halen songs exactly how he sang them with Van Halen without one single thought about adapting them to a bluegrass format.

Gee fellas, I thought this was the DB side!

Doyle Lawson, Jim & Jesse and IIIrd Tyme Out all use pathetic-sounding EB both live and in the studio.

Bill Monroe is IT, for many, many reasons, but aside from Ernie Potts, he had lousy bass players. I was lucky enough to be the voice of Bill Monroe in two tours of John Reischman's "Tribute to Bill Monroe", and we had a better bass player than Bill ever had!

The best new guys are Gene Libbea, Barry Bales, Mike Bubb, Eric Thorin, Mickey Harris, Dennis Crouch.

Opinions may not reflect the position of the Management. :-)

Bluegrass forever, Jake

Bill Monroe is IT, for many, many reasons, but aside from Ernie Potts, he had lousy bass players. I was lucky enough to be the voice of Bill Monroe in two tours of John Reischman's "Tribute to Bill Monroe", and we had a better bass player than Bill ever had!

No kidding, huh? Way back he had that Stringbean guy because he was a good ball player or ran the ball team or whatever. Later on he put one of his girlfriends on the bass and of course had her sing... In the musicians' afterlife he's got a lot of credit but I'll bet he's paying for the girlfriend bass player.

Blue Highway, Mountain Heart, III Tyme out, Allison Krause and Union Station, Lonesome River Band ...... shall I go on...:hyper:

So did anyone check out WDVX at wdvx.com?

Frank Wakefield
http://www.mossware.com/wakefield/

How about Strength in Numbers? Edgar Meyer was in the group so enough said.

Or maybe New Grass Revival?

Or maybe New Grass Revival?
That ain't bluegrass.
:p

That ain't bluegrass.
:p

Neither is Edgar Meyer. Amazing musician, yep. Bluegrass...no. My opinion only, of course.

I'm with you all the way on the Edgar Meyer thing, Mike.

Strength in Numbers isn't bluegrass?

Whatever you want to call it is fine with me. Label, label, label....
Either way it has pretty traditional instrumentation and they are educated and the songs kick ass. I'm pretty sure Edgar calls Strength in Numbers a bluegrass band too, just FYI.

Oh and I have a pretty recent recording with him and Jerry Douglas that I would reccomend to someone looking for bluegrass thing.

David Grisman

Red Allen

Here's a really cool Bela Fleck album that is bluegrass (if it isn't I sure like it anyway):
The Bluegrass Sessions Tales From the Acoustic Planet Volume 2
Bela Fleck-banjo
Tony Rice-guitar
Sam Bush-mandolin
Mark Schatz-bass fiddle
Stuart Duncan-fiddle
Jerry Douglas-dobro
Special Guests:
Earl Scruggs-banjo
Vassar Clements-fiddle

Also, I have a Dolly Parton/Emmylou Harris/Linda Ronstadt album called Trio II. It's got some really great country/bluegrass players on it. The upright bass player just lays it down and his tone is beautiful.

I have to double underline a couple of earlier recommendations that are very important for bluegrass.
First, the Bluegrass Album Band CDs are excellent, and they include a lot of the great old tunes everybody likes, and ones you should know when jamming with other Bluegrassers. J.D. Crowe played banjo, and he is impeccable when it comes to timing; Tony Rice headlined, and he is the template for the modern Bluegrass guitar player; Doyle Lawson played mandolin, and his band Quicksilver is a training ground for a lot of the musicians you hear today; Bobby Hicks is flat-out my idol when it comes to tasteful, swining fiddle; and, finally, the great (did I say GREAT?) Todd Phillips is on bass, and you can hear every note he plays on the upright bass. Todd won award after award for years, and is one of the guys you need to be influenced by. The Bluegrass Album Band has out 4 CDs including an all-instrumental one.
Second, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band CD "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" is probably the best thing ever put on vinyl. The greats are there: Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Vassar Clements, Jimmy Martin, Mother Maybell Carter, Roy Acuff, and then there's Junior Huskey (not Roy Huskey, Jr, his son and equal) on the upright bass. Huskey plays the best combination of straight ahead Bluegrass bass and slap bass I've ever heard. You totally owe it to to yourself to buy this CD. Both this CD and the Bluegrass Album Band CDs are great recordings to play along with. Do it over and over until Bluegrass becomes a part of your consciousness!! By the way, Roy Huskey, Jr. can be heard on vols 2 & 3 of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," but these CDs are no where in the same league as the first volume.
Finally, get the Bill Monroe Box Set. Bill invented Bluegrass, he is the imprint for how the music should be played, and his music from the 40s sounds as fresh and lively as what is being played today. Next, get the Flatt & Scruggs Mercury Sessions compuilation for a collection of their good stuff (a lot of which is re-created in the Bluegrass Album Band CDs). Finally, pick up some Stanley Brothers material. Ralph is still recording, and he frequently digs into the old stuff, but you can hear it played with good recording techniques. His bassman, Jack Cook, is a journeyman picker, but not in the league of the other guys mentioned.
These are DESRT ISLAND CDs. You could go to the middle of nowhere with these recodings and have a lifetime of music to digest. Enjoy them.

here's some info

www.myspace.com/aaronthrashramsey <-- my kid playing all the instruments

check out The Grascals
Randy Kohrs <--band my kid is currently in

Not to disrespect the older gents (Monroe, Stanleys, Flatt and Scruggs, that's the history where it came from)

They are my favorites too. They were the giants, back in the day before cut and paste recording technology.

If you're looking for bluegrass bassists, check out Barry Bales (Alison Krauss), Mike Bub (formerly of Del McCoury) Jason Moore (Mountain Heart) Dennis Crouch (bassman on Walk the Line Soundtrack) Terry Smith (The Grascals)

I play a little bass as well, (it's actually a small 7/8ths) check out my signature for links.

Hope this helps,

here's some info

www.myspace.com/aaronthrashramsey <-- my kid playing all the instruments

check out The Grascals
Randy Kohrs <--band my kid is currently in

Not to disrespect the older gents (Monroe, Stanleys, Flatt and Scruggs, that's the history where it came from)

They are my favorites too. They were the giants, back in the day before cut and paste recording technology.

If you're looking for bluegrass bassists, check out Barry Bales (Alison Krauss), Mike Bub (formerly of Del McCoury) Jason Moore (Mountain Heart) Dennis Crouch (bassman on Walk the Line Soundtrack) Terry Smith (The Grascals)

I play a little bass as well, (it's actually a small 7/8ths) check out my signature for links.

Hope this helps,
It's cool to see you on TalkBass. Bluegrass bass player should always get their due respect on this forum. I'm sure Edgar Meyer would agree, playing good bluegrass bass isn't easy..... well maybe for him.

Bluegrass bass player should always get their due respect on this forum. playing good bluegrass bass isn't easy.

I come from playing Prog Rock, some Jazz Fusion, and a bit of Classical. I have played with some really good musicians over the years. Bluegrass players scare me thay are so good. The simplicity of the sound fools you because this stuff is actually so complex it makes me have to rethink what I have learned.

Bluegrass players scare me thay are so good. The simplicity of the sound fools you because this stuff is actually so complex it makes me have to rethink what I have learned.

Its always so good to hear someone say something like this. It validates what us bluegrass players know about this music. It is musician's music that places a high value on virtuosity. Not that other genres do not hold this value, but go to a bluegrass festival sometime, if you haven't already, and you will be astonished by how many incredible players there are in the campsites and jamming circles. Bluegrass requires a great deal of technical proficiency and musicianship.

I think every recommendation so far has been excellent. I like them all, but I'd like to add one more recommendation with consideration that this is a double bass site:

The Lynn Morris Band

Lynn's husband Marshall Wilborne is probably one of the best bluegrass bass players around. If you really want to hear more of him go get his newest CD Root 5. Its all duets of banjo and bass with Marshall on every cut.

I knnow this thread sat for a while, and maybe everyone is done with it, but nobody mentioned Todd Philips or Byron House, and they're both fabulous bass players IMHO and on a lot of bluegrassy records.

I know he's from California, but I don't think any list of great bluegrass should be without Chris Thile, and How to Grow a Woman is a great cd. Matt Flinner should get a mention too, as another amazing mandolin player, even if he strays from the roots.

+10 on the NGDB's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." John Hartford is awesome, everyone should own "Aereo-Plane." I'd also go with Muleskinner (self titled), awesome lineup: Dave Grisman, Clarence White, Richard Greene, John Kahn, Peter Rowan, I think Bill Keith is on there too.

Mike Auldridge's first album on Takoma Records was an early inspiration for me.....guess that's kinda "old Newgrass" though. I believe that Tom Gray played bass on that one.

Wake the Dead

Yonder Mountain String band

mark shatz on the BLUEGRASS ALL-STARS @ the BIRCHMERE (i think '82) anything with TOM GRAY and the seldom scene live....MIKE BUBB w/DEL....and for new bands check out the LOVELL SISTERS....these kids from N.Georgia are fine....they were at I.B.M.A. last fall and will be @ MERLEFEST 2 days in april....

Hi, this is an oldie-but-a-goodie. "Old and In the Way", with Jerry Garcia and Dave Grisman.....really good record.

If you want to study bluegrass you have to add the Bluegrass Album Band recordings to your list. Get any and/or all of them, they are as good as it gets. Hope this helps. Brian

Ok, how about some new upcoming bluegrass bands?

i recommend the following:

Uncle Earl
Flat Mountain Girls
Chris Thile's How To Grow A Band
Darol Anger's Strings of Industry

oh and plug for my band:
Spare Rib & The Bluegrass Sauce - http://myspace.com/bbqgrass

If you want to study bluegrass you have to add the Bluegrass Album Band recordings to your list. Get any and/or all of them, they are as good as it gets. Hope this helps. Brian


you can say this again!!!! absolute must have!! bluegrass album band!! nice 1 Brian/aka solidtop...

I'm really loving mixed genres involving folk / trad stuff at the moment. That's always what I've liked in bluegrass : when the folklore comes out of it, and you feel it's old and true. When it mingles with some modern taste, it can be a disaster - resulting in puking on the album just listened - or a really good time for your ears and heart.

In that spirit, listen to one of David Grisman Quintet album :
Dawgnation.

+1 regarding the posts on WDVX and Marshall Wilborn...

WDVX has a great bluegrass show every weekday morning that starts at either 6:30 or 7:00. A nice way to get intro'd to lots of different bands, as they play a good mix of the classic old stuff and more modern groups, too. Plus the DJ, Fred E. (Freddie?) Smith is a hoot...

I'd highly recommend any of the Lynn Morris band's albums also, or check out Marshall's work on any of the Longview albums which also have awesome vocal work by Don Rigsby, Dudley Connell and James King. Marshall plays a big ole American Standard and IMO his tone and taste are second to none and a classic example of the "less is more" school of bluegrass bass playing. Not to say that his playing lacks imagination - he just seems to have a knack for knowing how to compliment the tune and the vocalist.

I also enjoy Jason Moore's playing on Michael Cleveland's two CD's - Flamekeeper and Let 'Er Go Boys. These are great "play along" albums - if you can keep up! Lots of great fiddle tunes by Mike and vocals by Audie Blaylock, Larry Sparks, Del McCoury, Tim O'Brien and others.
Audie's "Trains are the Only Way to Fly" CD is also some great hard- chargin' bluegrass with Jim Cornell on bass.

Just scratching the surface- how's your CD budget? :smug:

My choice for bass players who you can learn good stuff from would be Gene Libbea (Nashville Bluegrass Band) and Dennis Crouch (Aubrey Haynie and others). Then go out and find a copy of the Osborne Brothers double album "Bluegrass Collection" and listen to the Master...Bob Moore. Listen to how he handles the standard bluegrass songs.
All three of these fella's have more than enough to provide you with the stuff you need for the best in timing, taste and tone.

I know you said any bluegrass groups besides the Meyer/Fleck duo, but have you heard Strength in Numbers? Old group that consisted of Edgar Meyer on bass, Bela Fleck on banjo, Sam Bush on fiddle/mandolin, Mike Marshall on dobro, and Mark O'Connor on fiddle. They definitely had some great music.

Dobro is one of the few instruments that Mike doesn't play. :)

It was Jerry Douglas on the Dobro.

Great record, though not really bluegrass!

Dobro is one of the few instruments that Mike doesn't play. :)

It was Jerry Douglas on the Dobro.

Great record, though not really bluegrass!

Right! Jerry Douglas! Yeah, I guess it's more fiddly than bluegrass, but still great music that's sort of around that genre.

My favorite bass player was in the group Front Range, good bluegrass with a bass player like none other in bluegrass.

That was a great band! :)

Bob Dick was a good bass player and Bob Amos was/is a killer songwriter

I scanned this thread but did not read it in detail so these guys may have been mentioned previously but if you are into Bluegrass you must take a listen to the Seldom Scene (band's website link follows):

http://www.seldomscene.com/

One Name: JIMMY MARTIN

One Name: JIMMY MARTIN

That's my vote too Matt :D ! I just got the Bear Family Jimmy Martin Box Set a month ago. Wow ... that's bluegrass (and old country ;) ) ... about 150 re-mastered Jimmy songs and tunes ... great stuff. Wonderful bass playin' by some of the "godfathers" of upright bluegrass and country bass. Except .... there were a couple of sessions from the early '70's where Joe Zinkan, Junior Huskey, and Ray Martin (Jimmy's brother ??) play electric bass ... just doesn't sound "right" on the CD's ... somehow I am havin' a hard time picturing Joe and Junior with electric basses in their hands :) .

P.S. I see from your profile and the "RedLine" bio that you also play bass (or have played) with Paul Williams. Excellent !! No dis-respect to Jimmy Martin (God Rest His Soul) but without Paul's excellent songwriting and mando work, Jimmy's stuff (especially the gospels) just wouldn't be the same. A couple of my favorites that Paul had his writin' hand in are: What Was I Supposed To Do, The Joke's On You, Pretending I Don't Care, and My Walkin' Shoes.

+1 to Dave Grisman. The Quintet album blows my mind and the latest DGBX album is great.

How about:
David Peters
Bryon Sutton
Psychograss
Jazzgrass
Phillips, Grier, & Flinner
Cherryholmes (newer band)
Tim May
Brad Davis
The Stringdusters

regards

Some of the new bands have wicked good musicians. Proficient on instruments and vocals.

Hit and Run
Steep Canyon Rangers
Cadillac Sky
Infamous Stringdusters
Bradley Walker is the best singer I have heard in a long time. Just got IBMA male vocalist of the year.

The thing about the good new bands that they are technical and musical. It is scary cool.

Walt MI/USA