Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular

• Artist: Tony Trischka
• Rating:
• Release Date: January 23, 2007
• Genre: Country

Review

Banjo innovator Tony Trischka's vision has cut a wide swath across the contemporary music scene, touching both time-held and progressive traditions with folk and bluegrass. Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular is less a new thrust in a new direction than an overview allowing Trischka and his talented friends to revisit highlights in their own careers. Overall, the effort veers toward conservative, instrumental music ("Bon Qua Blues") supplemented by the occasional vocal ("Fox on the Run") that most listeners would recognize as bluegrass. On each cut, Trischka is joined by another renowned banjoist within a bluegrass setting (mandolin, bass, guitars). On the opener, "Farewell Blues," he's joined by none other than Earl Scruggs; on "Twilight Kingdom," "Ivory Toad of Catalan," and "Armando's Children," he's paired with Béla Fleck. As one might guess, the earlier selection with Scruggs is a little less adventurous than the ones with Fleck, but since the acoustic instrumentation remains the same, it all flows of a piece. Perhaps the oddest partner on Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular is comic Steve Martin. Those with longer memories, however, will recall Martin's television appearances when the banjo often formed part of his standup act. With lots of talented sparring partners and solid material, Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular will especially appeal to Trischka's older, more conservative fans. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Farewell Blues	Paul Mares, Elmer Schoebel	Earl Scruggs, Tony Trischka	(4:00)
Bon Aqua Blues	Tony Trischka	Tony Trischka, Kenny Ingram	(3:00)
Fox on the Run	Tony Hazzard	Tony Trischka, Tom Adams	(2:46)
Twilight Kingdom	Tony Trischka	Tony Trischka, Béla Fleck	(8:33)
Run Mountain	J.E. Mainer	Tony Trischka, Noam Pikelny	(2:59)
Escher's Waltz	Tony Trischka	Alison Brown, Tony Trischka	(3:38)
Doggy Salt	Tony Trischka	Tony Trischka, Scott Vestal	(2:41)
The Crow		Steve Martin, Tony Trischka	(3:21)
Ivory Toad of Catalan	Tony Trischka, Béla Fleck	Tony Trischka, Béla Fleck	(4:58)
Arcadia	Tony Trischka, Béla Fleck, Abigail Washburn	Alison Brown, Tony Trischka	(4:16)
Old Cane Pole	Bill Emerson	Tony Trischka, Bill Emerson	(4:51)
Live and Let Live	Gene Sullivan, Wiley Walker	Tony Trischka, Tom Adams	(3:09)
Armando's Children	Béla Fleck	Tony Trischka, Béla Fleck	(5:47)
Plunkin' Rag	Hubert Davis, Benny Jarrell	Steve Martin, Tony Trischka	(3:15)

Credits

Ronnie Freeland (Overdub Producer), David Wallace McLaughlin (Mandolin), Chris Thile (Mandolin), Jim Robeson (Engineer), Tony Trischka (Producer), David Grier (Guitar), Jerry Douglas (Dobro), Richard Battaglia (Photography), Sally Love (Vocals), Béla Fleck (Banjo), Mike Compton (Mandolin), Erick Jaskowiak (Engineer), Tim Stafford (Guitar), Noam Pikelny (Banjo), Dr. Toby Mountain (Mastering), Lou Reid (Vocal Harmony), Scott Vestal (Banjo), Byron House (Bass), Chris Thile (Vocals), Kenny Ingram (Banjo), Tom Adams (Banjo), Dudley Connell (Guitar), Richard Battaglia (Engineer), Gregory Heisler (Photography), Michael Daves (Vocals), Earl Scruggs (Banjo), Neil V. Rosenberg (Liner Notes), Jason Stacium (Engineer), Jim Whitney (Bass), Barry Bales (Bass), Jon Sholle (Guitar), Robert Battaglia (Engineer), Béla Fleck (Producer), Sarah Lainie Radawich (Graphic Design), Ron Stewart (Fiddle), Marty Confurius (Bass), Ronnie Freeland (Mixing), Kenny Smith & The Loveliters (Guitar (Rhythm)), Tony Trischka (Banjo), Alison Brown (Banjo), Kenny Smith & The Loveliters (Guitar), Jason Marcucci (Engineer), Rickie Simpkins (Mandolin), Steve Martin (Banjo), Rickie Simpkins (Fiddle), Bill Emerson (Banjo), Béla Fleck (Mixing), Marshall Wilborn (Bass), Barry Mitterhoff (Mandolin), Sam Bush (Mandolin), Dudley Connell (Vocals), Tony Rice (Guitar), Stuart Duncan (Fiddle), Michael Daves (Guitar)