Psychograss is sizzling with five high-octane virtuosos playing traditional bluegrass instruments who have stretched tradition in directions of pure genius with blends of jazz, classical, celtic, rock and other world music influences. The bluegrass flair is clearly evident but it's tinged with unbridled imagination and produced with an intensified fervor. Purists would say it's not bluegrass but most would consider it progressive bluegrass.
Each of these artists is revered for their creative genius on their respective instruments; together they shine like a copper penny. The tune selection is evenly shared with each of the five musicians having composed two cuts apiece. As traditions dictate, each piece gives way to breaks for each musician to improvise on the underlying tune before returning to the lead.
What makes this project fun is the group's irreverent and capricious style. Having seen them perform live at Greyfox, I can now envision the energy and camaraderie that emanated from the stage each time I listen to the CD. It was one scorching performance!
It's all about the music with this band and "Now Hear This". Are you listening? You won't hear any vocals but the complexity and intricacy of the instrumentation would be lost in the vocal. The instruments are tightly woven in each cut. Each complementary and fitting together intimately. It's hard to pick favorites because each tune is a masterpiece in its own right. "Road to Hope" is a sweet melody which plays Grier's flatpicking against Marshall's mandolin with Anger's violin, Phillip's base, and Trischka's banjo subtle presence lying below them. "Stroll of the Mudbug" has Anger's recognizable touch in a jazzy, D'Jango Reinhardt flavor. "Scary", a Marshall tune, plays that mandolin against Anger's Fiddle, then against Trischka's Banjo, then against Phillips Bass in a jazzy complex tune. Every time you listen to the cuts of this project brings new enlightenment to the sound and genius of what Psychograss is all about.
| Project Title: | Now Hear This | |
| Artist: | Psychograss | |
| Released: | 2005 | |
| Produced by: | Todd Phillips | |
| Record Label: | Rebel Records |
Song List/Credits
| High Ham | (Darol Anger Fiddustics BMI) | |
| Look What the Dog Brought Home | (David Grier Fine Flatpicking Music ASCAP) | |
| Looks Like a Duck | (Tony Trischka Tone Zone Music BMI) | |
| In the Lion's Den | (Mike Marshall Rotagilla Music BMI) | |
| One Foot in The Gutter | ||
| (Todd Phillips Bubinga Music BMI) | ||
| Road to Hope | (David Grier Fine Flatpicking Music ASCAP) | |
| Stroll of the Mudbug | (Darol Anger Fiddustics BMI) | |
| Scary | (Mike Marshall Rotagilla Music BMI) | |
| Little Basses | (Todd Phillips Bubinga Music BMI) | |
| Not Yet Not | (Tony Trischka Tone Zone Music BMI) |
Band Members
Darol Anger Violin, Todd Phillips Acoustic Bass, Mike Marshall Mandolin, Tony Trischka Banjo, David Grier Guitar
This CD is a great listen, you can find Psychograss
here.
