Classical Musicians Playing Bluegrass

[Jason Sypher]

It's happening folks, and i think it's happening a lot. Classical musicians are crossing over into bluegrass and other folk genres. What do you think of the trend?

[Steve Killingsworth]

Several times a year I play with a young lady who is a classically trained violinist. She was a member of the University of Memphis Orchestra. Her playing is very smooth and precise--especially on waltzes or slower tunes. She is a very good bluegrass fiddler. The other classical folks (mostly violinists) I have heard or played with have a similar sound--smooth and almost mechanical. However, sometimes I like a little ragged edge to fiddle tunes--especially the fast ones. It just seems like it gives the music more emotion.

By no means am I saying I don't like classical fiddlers. The music just seems to have a different feel at times.

[moles]

"Classical Musicians Playing Bluegrass"

Wouldn't it be just as much fun the other way around?

[Cathead]

Funny reading this post after just having watched this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dS4AaXLtos

[mimaz]

That's good stuff!

[shadygrove]

Originally Posted by moles

"Classical Musicians Playing Bluegrass"

Wouldn't it be just as much fun the other way around?

Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile come to mind for a couple of guys that play bluegrass and "traditional" music and classical, sometimes all in the same tune. (I'm seeing them play next month in Seattle )

Another is David Grisman. When I saw him in 2005 there was a classical guitarist, Enrique Coria, in the Quintet. When they came to Seattle last year the guitarist was Frank Vignola, a jazz virtuoso. So many great musicians; Jerry Garcia back in the jug band days, Tony Rice, Mark O'Conner, Jim Kerwin on bass and on and on... They didn't start out playing gypsy jazz/newgrass /classical "Dawg music" but through passion for music played a part in evolving it and their own abilities as musicians.

Innovation and drawing from many different influences once was what bluegrass was all about. I think it can go back there, and for many "newgrass" players already has, but it's interesting how some bluegrass fans and players get locked into emulating legendary players and founders of bluegrass and forget that 100 years ago the genre didn't exist.

If i'm going to write a long-winded post I should at least respond to Jason's original question...

It's happening folks, and i think it's happening a lot. Classical musicians are crossing over into bluegrass and other folk genres. What do you think of the trend?

I play with a couple Fiddlers regularly at an old-time fiddler's ass'n jam that are classically trained. One guy if he thinks someone is taking a tune at a ridiculously slow speed will start playing so sweet and syrupy you can hardly recognize the tune anymore They are great players though and very versatile because they can read music, play in all keys and are fluent in the "up the neck" positions that scare many of us self-taught folks. I think the trend is great and people should play what makes them happy whatever path they took to learning the instrument. Occasionally old dogs do learn new tricks. Perhaps playing more raggedy with emotion is as much a learned skill for classical players as bowing melody in Eb up the neck is for me


Jason - I've enjoyed the clips you've posted here and the way you're expanding horizons for those that play UB and like fiddle tunes. I'm working up to incorporating more fiddle chop, doublestops, and drones into my playing. Thanks for the inspiration!

[BCAlbin]

Last time I saw 'em, Andy Moritz, bassist with Cadillac Sky, seemed pretty comfortable with a bow in his hands!

And, here in Nashville, there's also Matt Combs, Fiddlist formerly with Mike Snyder and John Hartford. The guy can sit-in with a section on some Shostakovich anytime he wants.

-BCAlbin