Double Bass Bluegrass album recommendation

[theshadow2001]

Can anyone recommend to me some good bluegrass albums, with non stop fast paced music. With banjo's burning it up. I love it when these guys play that up tempo stuff. But when it slips back down to slower paced song I seem to lose interest.

 

[Brad Maestas]

Some off the top of my head are:

The Lilly Brothers with Don Stover - On The Radio (1952-1953) *burnin' banjo!!*
Red Allen & Frank Wakefield - The Kitchen Tapes (1963)
Red Allen feat. Frank Wakefield - The Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (1964-1983)
Any Ralph Stanley or Stanley Bros.
Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza (Acoustic Disc) *great version of Ashokan Farewell*
This was the first bluegrass ballad that really captivated me. If you want to get into some slower songs this one is great!
Old and In The Way
Clarence White

Some recent banjer players to check out:
Bill Evans
Tony Trischka


For some insanely-fast bluegrass, check out Split Lip Rayfield (RIP Kirk Rundstrom). I was very close to them when I lived in Lawrence, KS and I sat in on mandolin and guitar from time to time. Their bassist uses a one-string bass he made out of an old Ford F-150 gas tank! Killer stuff!!

www.splitliprayfield.com
www.lawrence.com/bands/split_lip_rayfield/

 

[mpoppitt]

Split Lip rocks!!!

 

[boombloom]

Not sure if you're looking for traditional bluegrass or not. If you want to keep up the pace and don't mind some new stuff, check out Bela Fleck's Drive. It's a real work out.

 

[M Ramsey]

Get some of Jim Mills recordings on Sugar Hill. He has 3 albums out, the most recent is Hide Head Blues. Definitely hard-core, straight ahead, up tempo bluegrass.

He is the monster banjo man holdng down the banjo duties for Ricky Skaggs' band for about 10 years now.

It is what YOU want.

 

[Fat.Mike]

I hate Ricky Skaggs (don't preach at me Ricky!!!:scowl: ), but his band (kentucky thunder) is Insane. M Ramsey has it right, that banjo player can pick!

Also, Sam Bush has a wicked Banjo player name Scott Vestal who is really worth checking out (also from the good 'ol state of Oklahoma).

RIP Kirk

Edit: also check out Psychograss. They are one of my absolute favorites! Todd Phillips is their bass player, probably my bass playing hero, and insanely talented. Also, Tony Trischka, the banjo player, is down right amazing.

 

[Reuben]

The CD "Drive" by Bela Fleck is pretty high energy post-bluegrass stuff.

Amazing band. Amazing banjo. Great transparent bass playing by Mark Shatz.

 

[theshadow2001]

thanks guys i'll check this stuff out. Keep it coming though!

 

[Heli Bass]

S-01;

THe following album recomendation has no banjo playing on it, but it has some of the tastiest acoustic music on it ever.
I highly recomend "Skip, Hop, and Wobble" with Russ Barenberg, Jerry Douglas and Edgar Meyer.
Good Stuff!

 

[bluegrasscat]

i personally like <*(LONGVIEW)>( .. also James King's band solo stuff!! greaaaaaat music!! nashville bluegrass band, K thunders jimmy mills.. Rhonda Vincent and the Rage w/ Kenny Ingram on banjer....

 

[speedster]

Pick up the new Dan Paisley album it is in your face Bluegrass with TJ Lundy at his finest...

Also Rhonda Vincent albums with Kenny Ingram cranking on the banjo,

Lonesome River Band albums, most of them with Sammy Shelor who is the Man on Banjo today !!

 

[JJBluegrasser]

While there are many, many good records... I'd recommend Del McCoury's album 'Family.' On it, Mike Bub plays some of the best traditional, but not boring, bluegrass bass I've heard.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Pick up some of the Nashville Bluegrass Band "years" albums. they are named for the year recorded. 1997, 1999, 2000, etc. The players are all at or near the best on their specific instrument. For bass, I would recommend something that features; Ben Issacs, Missy Raines, Mike Bub, & the guy that plays for Mt. Heart.

 

[bluegrasscat]

yeah Mountain Heart is a great band and Jason Moore is awesome on bass... Blue Highway.. another great bluegrass band... there are so many!!!! then there is also the CherryHolmes family!!

 

[Fat.Mike]

Now that we are on to bass players... Cadillac Sky. Their bass player is a masters Graduate of bass at the University of Houston. He is darn good and his tone was amazing when I saw them live. The band is pretty good as well.

 

[Roger Harper]

I just caught them Thursday night in Nashville and they are outstanding. All are great musicians but the bass player is stunning. Plays a 200+BPM duet with the banjo player arco!

 

[M Ramsey]

Now that we are on to bass players... Cadillac Sky. Their bass player is a masters Graduate of bass at the University of Houston. He is darn good and his tone was amazing when I saw them live. The band is pretty good as well.

Uh...that would be Andy Moritz. Check out more about him here. I hung out with him for a couple days this past weekend at a festival where our bands were both playing. Super nice fellow.

 

[Fat.Mike]

I got to talk to Mr Moritz after the show and i totally agree that he was a very nice fellow.

 

[four2oh]

for bluegrass ballads and also fast pickin', i recommend listening to some:

Jimmy Martin
John Hartford

 

[Damon Rondeau]

There's also this old thread on the topic.