Knee Deep in Bluegrass
The AcuTab Sessions

Review by Steven Stone
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CD Stock Number: Rebel Records

 

  Acutab publishes books of tablature that feature some of the finest bluegrass musicians around. The AcuTab library includes transcriptions of banjo solos by J.D. Crowe, Alan Munde, Sammy Shelor, Tony Trischka, Peter Wernick, Scott Vestal, and Terry Baucom, guitar solos by Charles Sawtelle, Kenny Smith, and Tim Stafford, mandolin solos by Alan Bibey, Wayne Benson, and Bruce Baldassari, and at least a dozen instructional books. They are seriously into spreading the bluegrass gospel. John Lawless, AcuTab's founder, initiated this special CD release on Rebel records that celebrates the fine musicians who have contributed to AcuTab's publications over the years.

Together, the musicians on Knee Deep in Bluegrass have garnered over 65 IBMA awards, and nearly a dozen Grammies. They are, to put it simply, good players. But they are not just flashy pickers, but musicians who respect the melody line. Tim Stafford and Kenny Smith's duet on the traditional song "Angeline the Baker" shows that great playing is about more than just fast fingers.

Mixed among this primarily instrumental album are four vocal numbers that include "Benny McCoy", "Lonesome Wind", "Home Run Man", and Woody Guthrie's "Pretty Boy Floyd". Buy the CD, then get the accompanying tab book, put in a couple of years of wood-shedding and SHAZAM, you'll be able to play along with the best.

Enjoyment: 90

Sound Quality: 85