VA - Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza (1999) [FLAC] torrent

Review by Rick Anderson

This lovingly packaged and heavily annotated two-disc set documents a summit meeting of world-class bluegrass mandolin players organized by David Grisman and Ronnie McCoury; the other participants are Sam Bush, Jesse McReynolds, Bobby Osborne, Ricky Skaggs, Frank Wakefield and Buck White. Together, individually and in duets and trios (accompanied by the skillful but always sensitive Del McCoury on guitar) this remarkable crew plays a generous program of bluegrass standards and originals. The album opens awkwardly, with a woozy, down-tempo ensemble performance of Bill Monroe's classic, "Blue Moon of Kentucky," but things pick up quickly; there are outstanding performances of "I'm Going Back to Old Kentucky" (courtesy of Sam and Del) and of Frank Wakefield's unusual "One-Legged Man" as well as Ricky Skaggs' rip-roaring take on "Boston Boy," a seven-second version of "Rawhide" and lots of amusing between-take patter. A must for bluegrass fans.