Search - Tony Trischka :: Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular

+ 1/2 stars...A Banjo Picker's Delight

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 01/28/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have enjoyed the music of Tony Trischka for more than twenty-five years and managed to see him perform twice with Skyline in the mid-Eighties. This latest release features an all-star cast (Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Chris Thile) along with like-minded banjo players who share the spotlight on each track. Whether the banjo players are traditionalists (Earl Scruggs, Bill Emerson) or more contemporary stylists (Bela Fleck, Noam Pikelny, Scott Vestal), this release is a banjo picker's delight.



Here's a rundown of the guest banjo players on each track:



1. "Farewell Blues" - Features legendary performer Earl Scruggs (who just turned 83 this month!).

2. "Bon Aqua Blues" - A Trischka original featuring Rhonda Vincent's banjo player Kenny Ingram.

3. "Fox on the Run" - One of only three vocals, featuring Tom Adams, who spent several years with the Johnson Mountain Boys.

4. "Twilight Kingdom" - Another original, featuring Bela Fleck, who also co-produced the album with Trischka. At 8:34, it is by far the longest track on the album. Unlike most of the tracks, which fall into a definite bluegrass vein, this displays their newgrass style.

5. "Run Mountain" - Features young banjo phenom Noam Pikelny, a former student of both Fleck and Mark Vann (who Pikelny replaced in the bluegrass/jam band Leftover Salmon after Vann's untimely death). This is the second vocal number.

6. "Escher's Waltz" - Another Trischka original, featuring Alison Brown, who came to prominance with Alison Kraus and Union Station in the late-Eighties.

7. "Doggy Salt" - Another Trischka original featuring Scott Vestal, who has worked with Larry Sparks and Doyle Lawson before enjoying a successful solo career.

8. "The Crow" - Features Steve Martin, who is an accomplished banjo player. [Listen to side 2 of THE STEVE MARTIN BROTHERS.]

9. "Ivory Toad of Catalan" - Co-written with Fleck, the two again show their newgrass side.

10. "Arcadia" - Another track featuring Alison Brown.

11. "Old Cane Pole" - Features Bill Emerson, who was a founding member of the Country Gentlemen.

12. "Live and Let Live" - Features Tom Adams, the third vocal track.

13. "Armando's Children" - Written by Fleck, he and Trischka again explore the possibilities of the banjo outside a bluegrass context. At 5:47, it is the second-longest track.

14. "Plunkin' Rag" - The album closes with a footstomping romp between Trischka and Martin--two artists having fun.



And this entire album is fun. If you enjoy good banjo picking, this album is sure to delight. [Running Time - 57:14] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"

Banjo Heaven

Gary Popovich | Chesterfield, VA USA | 04/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tony Trischka has always taken the road less traveled (at least as far as the 5-string banjo is concerned) throughout his career, leaving an indelible mark as an innovator and composer while confounding (and often infuriating) the traditional bluegrass world. While I've always admired Tony's incredible musical reach, I most enjoy his inventions when employed within the "traditional" bluegrass instrumentation. "Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular" works wonderfully on that score, with Tony teaming up with many of the genre's most influential banjoists (from Scruggs to Fleck) and the cream of the bluegrass aristocracy (Douglas, Thiele, Rice, Bush) to create yet another fabulous soundscape of the first order.



At this point, one would expect the mentor/mentee combination of Tony and Bela Fleck to produce memorable picking, and they don't fail here - I particularly love "Twilight Kingdom," with its lovely harmonics and tempo changes. But just about every banjo combo clicks on this CD - it's great to hear the 83-year old Earl Scruggs still be able to tear up "Farewell Blues;" to me, one of the biggest surprises (even more so than Steve Martin's fine contributions) is the playful duet between Tony and big Kenny Ingram (currently Rhonda Vincent's and formerly the late Lester Flatt's banjoist) on "Bon Aqua Blues." The few vocal tracks are also fun - if you wonder why "Fox on the Run" would ever appear on a Tony Trischka CD, wait until you hear the verse with what are actually the original Manfred Mann chords. Plus, you'll also get to hear (briefly) Michael Daves on "Run Mountain" - Daves is currently touring with Tony to support this CD, and his singing and guitar picking are of such otherworldly quality that it's only a matter of time before he becomes a bluegrass star in his own right.



If you love the 5-string banjo, this is as close to heaven as it gets. And if you have the opportunity, catch Tony with his "DBBS" band to experience the magic.

"

Spectracular

Sue Davis | Naples, FL, USA | 02/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the coolest!!!!!!!!!!!! Tony Trischka must be heard!!!!!!!!!!!!! Saw Tony play for the first time on The Ellen Show last week with Steve Martin. Loved the music, had to have the CD---can't play it enough!!!!!!!!!"