Life Of Sorrow

Performer: David Grisman
Engineer: David Dennison; David Ferguson; Bob Petrucci; Larry Cumings; Tom Anderson
Producer: David Grisman
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: Personnel includes: David Grisman (mandolin); Pat Enright, Del McCoury, Mac Wiseman, John Nagy (vocals, guitar); John Hartford, Allan O'Bryant (vocal, banjo); Stuart Duncan (vocals, fiddle); Bryan Bowers (vocals, autoharp); Herb Pederson, Artie Rose (guitar); Rob McCoury (banjo); Jason Carter, Laurie Lewis (fiddle); Mark Hembree, Mike Bub, Jim Kerwin, Harriet Rose (bass). Personnel: David Grisman (vocals, tenor, baritone, mandolin); Ralph Stanley (vocals, tenor, banjo); John Nagy, Mac Wiseman, Pat Enright (vocals, guitar); John Hartford (vocals, banjo); Bryan Bowers (vocals, autoharp); Ralph Rinzler (vocals, mandolin); Del McCoury (tenor, guitar); Herb Pedersen, Alan O'Bryant (tenor, banjo); Jackie Cook (tenor); Ronnie McCoury (baritone, mandolin); Stuart Duncan (baritone, fiddle); Artie Rose, Ralph Stanley II (guitar); Rob McCoury (banjo); James Price, Jason Carter , Laurie Lewis (fiddle). Audio Mixer: Larry Cummings. Liner Note Author: David Grisman. Recording information: Atwell Studios; BayView Studios; Cowboy Arms Recording Spa; Dawg Studios; Petrucci. David Grisman has never denied his roots in bluegrass, as it has always been an important ingredient in his self-described "Dawg Music." On this compilation, recorded over a three-decade stretch, the mandolin master sticks exclusively to bluegrass as he collaborates with a host of friends and influences interpreting various sorrow-laden melodies that have became staples within the genre. Every track packs an emotional punch, especially the intimate duets ("Doin' My Time" with the late John Hartford on banjo and vocals; "When You and I Were Young, Maggie" with guitarist/singer Mac Wiseman; "Tragic Romance" with banjo player Alan O'Bryant; singing a duet with Grisman; and guitarist/singer Del McCoury performing the old chestnut "Tennessee Waltz"). It's also hard to overlook the contributions of veteran singer Ralph Stanley (belatedly discovered by many music fans following the revival of his early hit, "Man of Constant Sorrow," sung by Dan Tyminski for the soundtrack to the blockbuster movie O, Brother Where Art Thou?), whose still-potent tenor vocal accompanies Grisman's vocal in a much more subdued interpretation of this landmark piece composed by his late brother, Carter Stanley. Perhaps the most unusual selection is "Pretty Saro," a 1969 recording by guitarist and singer John Nagy of an old English folk tune, backed by his orchestrations and Grisman's mandolin. As usual, Grisman sneaks in a hidden bonus track (the Carter Family's "Keep on the Sunny Side of Life," performed with Wiseman) following the last selection. Grisman's detailed liner notes, the inclusion of complete lyrics for every song, and the treasure trove of photographs also help to make this an essential purchase for every bluegrass fan. ~ Ken Dryden

Dirty Linen (12/03, p.53) - "...Mandolin master Grisman has delved into his archives and into the heart and soul of bluegrass to come up with a collection of songs whose themes are heartbreak and tragedy....As essential to fans of bluegrass as it is to fans of traditional music..." Mojo (Publisher) (9/03, p.105) - 5 stars out of 5 - "No one plays mandolin like Grisman. His lightness of touch, precision and tone make the hair raise on your arms....Excellent..."

Though mandolinist David Grisman is counted among the most influential bluegrass musicians of all time, his influence is ironically in part due to his reluctance to play straight-ahead bluegrass. As a New York City-raised Jew, Grisman was an atypical country musician, and originally found success as part of the early 1960s folk revival scene. He later moved to San Francisco, along the way collaborating extensively with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead. In 1975 he formed the genre-bending David Grisman Quartet, which served as a career springboard for a host of now-legendary musicians and combined bluegrass, folk, jazz, and several types of world music. In 1990 Grisman founded the Acoustic Disc label, which allowed him to explore his uniquely un-classifiable "dawg" music without regard for commercial expectations.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25