Search - Jesse McReynolds :: Bending the Rules

Bravo for McReynolds & 'Bending the Rules'

sprint | USA | 12/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love all kinds of music and have been listening to just about anyone who picks up a mandolin and has something to say. This is the first Jesse cd I've picked up. Prior to this, I had only heard him play on Grisman's "Mandolin Extravaganza" cd and few odd cuts from other bluegrass collections. So I have to say that this was a great surprise and has to be one of my favorite mando cd's of all time! Jesse really delivers, lives up to 'living legend' status and has earned my admiration as much as the usual virtuosos (Monroe, Grisman, Thile, Marshall, Compton, etc.). Every cut showcases a different style and can stand alone on its own merits---- except for the 2nd one,'Witch Grass', which is really just an undisguised, straightforward acoustic version of "Stairway to Heaven" - kind of neat- but for some reason I get embarrassed for the artists who bother trying to give these alternative versions a different title when it is so obvious what the real name of the song is. But the rest of the cd completely blows me away, nevertheless! Jesse McReynolds demonstrates how he carves his own unique style with his own unique voice on the mandolin and deserves every accollade he has received over the years and will surely deserve even more praise in the years ahead!"

Jesse can do it all!

John A. Gregorio | Castalian Springs, TN | 11/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bending or breaking the rules doesn't always guarantee the creation of great music, but in this case the "bending" has made the music soar. Two great artist traded energy and licks to produce a cd of diverse music. Each piece has just the arrangements of mandolin and fiddle. From the speed demon "Blowin' up a Strong" to a standard that I thought I would not want to hear again, until now, "Sweet Georgia Brown."

I saw Jesse and the Virginia Boys recently, at Fort Bledsoe Bluegrass Festival, playing at 9:30 of a cold, cold night, but his hot playing, found on this cd, heated audience! Highly recommended!"