Nickel Creek

Performer: Nickel Creek
Engineer: Gary Paczosa
Producer: Alison Krauss
Distributor: Welk

Notes: Nickel Creek: Sean Watkins (vocals, guitar); Chris Thile (vocals, banjo, mandolin, bouzouki); Sara Watkins (vocals, violin, strings). NICKEL CREEK was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album and "Ode To A Butterfly" was nominated for Best Country Instrumental Performance. Personnel: Sean Watkins (vocals, guitar, mandolin); Chris Thile (vocals, banjo, bouzouki, mandolin); Sara Watkins (vocals, violin, fiddle, strings); Scott Thile (acoustic bass, upright bass, electric bass). Recording information: Seventeen Grand; Sixteen Grand; The Brown Cloud. Photographer: Jim McGuire . Arranger: Nickel Creek. NICKEL CREEK is the appealing debut album by this quartet of young bluegrass/folk musicians. Mandolinist Chris Thile kicks things off with a display of virtuosity on "Ode to a Butterfly," negotiating the twists and turns of the melody with seemingly effortless abandon. All four musicians seem incredibly sure-footed and comfortable in each other's company. Bassist Scott Thile shines in an often under-appreciated role--his round sound and perfect intonation provide the harmonic underpinning and subtle rhythmic cushion that lends buoyancy to the ensemble sound. The production values are exceptionally high on this project, reflecting the intense musicality of producer Alison Krauss, an instrumental and singing star in her own right. Violinist Sara Watkins contributes a tender lead vocal on the ethereal "Out of the Woods," and the harmony vocals are nothing short of sublime. "Sweet Afton," a setting of the famous poem by Robert Burns, shows off the group's Celtic leanings. Chris Thile's high tenor vocal is heart stopping.

CMJ (4/3/00, p.36) - "...Blends sweet vocal harmonies with accessible gospel melodies, fleshed out by fiddles, mandolins and guitars." Down Beat (7/00, p.76) - 4.5 stars out of 5 - "The most amazing music in this batch [of reviews] comes from this kiddie bluegrass band. Just a quick listen to their vocals - sweet, tender, innocent - gives them away....this band of prodigies...has a penchant also for pop, classical music and jazz." No Depression (5-6/00, pp.121-2) - "...Exuberance, innovation and sheer musical talent unite in a confident and accomplished debut....Spiking its newgrass/folk core with Celtic accents and a dash of pop....there's much to enjoy."

Bluegrass crossover phenomenon Nickel Creek had a considerable head start on its competition; its members started performing together in the late 1980s when they were still children. By the time they were teenagers, the young virtuosi (mentored by the esteemed bluegrass artist Alison Krauss) had broken through to the mainstream in a big way. Their mix of bluegrass tradition and contemporary pop sensibility earned them a huge audience via their self-titled 2000 debut album, nicely dovetailing with the O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU-inspired revival of interest in bluegrass.

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