Sarah Jarosz Undercurrent (2016) [hdtracks 24 96]

The soulful and gorgeous collection – produced by John Leventhal (Rosanne Cash, Elvis Costello) and recorded in his Manhattan home studio – follows Jarosz’s Grammy-winning 2016 release Undercurrent (Rounder). World On The Ground is a collection of stories both real and imagined exploring the tension and inertia of small-town living. Jarosz, a native of Wimberley, TX (pop. 2,626) and current NYC resident, explores the desire for escape set against the ease of staying put. The album is populated by sensitive souls, aimless wanderers, and back-porch daydreamers. Their stories are illuminated by the album’s spacious yet intricate arrangements and Jarosz’s captivating voice and richly detailed songwriting. With the scope of a novel and a sound inspired by classic Texas songwriting, World On The Ground paints a portrait that exists outside of time.

Following up her most recent Grammy-winning album, World On The Ground, Jarosz has announced the release of Blue Heron Suite, a much-anticipated song cycle which she composed after being the recipient of the FreshGrass Composition Commission. Jarosz premiered the piece at the 2017 FreshGrass Festival at Mass MoCa in North Adams, MA. The commission proved to be an exciting musical challenge for Jarosz, and she ended up with a song cycle inspired by the frequent trips she and her parents made to Port Aransas, a small town on the Gulf Coast of Texas, a few hours from her hometown of Wimberley.