Search - Chris Thile :: Stealing Second

Some of the greatest mandolin music ever!

10/19/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw Chris Thile at Winterhawk '99 with David Grisman, and while the old master was no slouch, it was clear who was taking over the reigns of the title: greatest mandolin player on the planet (although Sam Bush and Mike Marshall are still neck and neck with him). As has been said, the great thing about this album is not that someone so young can play so well, but that anyone, regardless of age, can compose such sophisticated, soulful, beautiful music! Although I play the mandolin, I listen to this album for the melodies, not just for the hotlicks -- and that's probably the greatest compliment you can give to an album of instrumental bluegrass music!"

America's Mandolin Mozart Mesmerizes

Mark J. Fowler | Okinawa, Japan | 11/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A little historical perspective. Chris had won the national mandolin championship at 12, followed by the recording Leading Off...,"Stealing Second" was recorded at about age 17, very soon before the earth-shaking Nickel Creek debut CD.



On his first CD, "Leading Off", Chris worked with fine musicians and allowed himself to be mentored a little by Pete Wernick, mixing a few self-written ditties with several "parking lot favorites". On "Stealing Second" everything gets ratcheted up a notch. Chris writes ALL the tunes himself. The accompanying musicians are no less than Stuart Duncan on Fiddle and Jerry Douglas on Dobro. Now master David Grier takes on guitar work and Scott Vestal brings his 5-string wizardry to the project.



The results are, frankly, electrifying. Chris mixes in light, airy reels like "Ah, Spring" and "Hop the Fence" with serious barn-burning breakdowns like "Clear the Tracks". (One of the "hottest" bluegrass recordings in history.)



For anyone with any interest in Chris Thile, Bluegrass, Irish or Mandolin music, "Stealing Second" is required listening. Get it."

Great Melodies, bluegrass stars

Kim A Miller | Windsor, CT United States | 11/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After surviving my own personal intoxication with Thile's masterwork, "Not all who wander are lost" (probably 150 listens), I needed a new addiction. And while I had listened to "Stealing Second" before, I now turned my full attention to it. To my delight, both Stuart Duncan (fiddle) and Jerry Douglas (dobro) are here to accompany the great mando playing of Chris Thile. As others have commented, his composing skills are as sublime as his playing. This record has variety, beauty and a lot of just plain fun. Plenty of reels, airs and harmonies from some of the best players on the planet!"