Bluegrass Mandolin

Previous recordings for the Accurate label yielded much the same type of instrumental music as on this, their major label debut. The Jazz Mandolin Project is less about straight ahead, mainstream jazz, and more into exploring a certain amount of improvisation within rock oriented and compositional contexts. Mandolinist Jamie Masefield churns out incessant chords like a guitarist, and his single line inventions fall along conventional staccato tonality. Bassist Chris Dalhgren cuts back his more progressive inclinations, while Ari Hoening provides steadying rhythms. On the rockier front, Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio cameos on the hard edged "Hang Ten," as he and Masefield crisscross ascending and descending scales…

Pickin’ on Pink Floyd delves into the extensive catalog of the world’s premiere cosmic rock band. This experimental and unique approach marries excellent bluegrass instrumental interpretations with the psychedelic space rock of Pink Floyd. Featuring some of America’s finest on mandolin, acoustic guitar, 5-string banjo and fiddle, this collection is a journey into the world of Pink Floyd in an organic improvisational nature. Pickin’ on Pink Floyd will take listeners on a ride through the imagination on a trip that is both mystical and fun.

Hot Rize is one of the most influential and pioneering bluegrass bands of the last 35 years. In 1978, Hot Rize began conjuring up their addicting brand of Colorado bluegrass that honors the traditional while embracing their own influences of blues, country, and celtic music. They have influenced a wide range of popular artists such as Nickel Creek, Punch Brothers, Steve Martin, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Dierks Bentley. The group disbanded in 1990 to pursue solo careers and it has been over 24 years since their last studio album and major tour together. Hot Rize is Tim O’Brien (lead vocals and mandolin), Nick Forster (bass and vocals), Pete Wernick (banjo and vocals) and newest member Bryan Sutton (guitar and vocals) who replaced the late Charley Sawtelle after his death in 1999. Their new studio album, When I’m Free captures a group of incredibly talented veterans making some of the best music of their careers.

Banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck has certainly broken more boundaries than any other picker in recent memory, from his early days performing bluegrass-inspired folk compositions on Rounder in the late '70s to his quirky jazz freak-outs with the Flecktones throughout the '90s. In late 2001, this peculiar innovator released an album of banjo interpretations of classical works by Bach, Chopin, and Scarlatti. Before classical purists roll their eyes, they must remember that the banjo hasn't always been seen as the instrument of choice of backwoods musicians in the Appalachian mountains, but as recently as the 1940s was used as a primary rhythm instrument in all manner of parlor music.