[Review] The David Grisman Quintet (1977)
The album that introduced “Dawg music” to the world, blending bluegrass and jazz.
Kronomyth 2.0: Bluegrazz.
This is the first of what would come to be called Dawg music: a unique mixture of bluegrass and jazz that was audibly influenced by the work of Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. Those influences can be heard most clearly on E.M.D. (Grappelli) and Pneumonia (Reinhardt), but they aren’t the only influences at work on The David Grisman Quintet. David Grisman is far more innovative than derivative, and citing Grappelli and Reinhardt simply provides a reference point for what is otherwise a very different kind of music than traditional bluegrass. Featuring almost all original compositions (an experimental cover of Artie Traum’s Fish Scale is the lone exception), the album has a surprising amount of range. The transition from the breezy Swing 51 to the classically minded Opus 57 illustrates this in miniature. The quintet represents an all-star collection of bluegrass players who would go on to have long and successful careers. Darrol Anger and Tony Rice in particular shine on this recording, as they’re given the most opportunities (other than Grisman himself) to step forward for solos. Todd Phillips (whose “rhythm” mandolin is featured on the right channel) and Bill Amatneek provide the accompaniment (along with Rice) to Grisman’s fleet-fingered leads. The David Grisman Quintet is, for me, the most interesting chapter yet in Grisman’s musical journey. Even if bluegrass isn’t your thing, the positive energy and spirited playing of this music will catch your attention. When this album was made, I was listening to punk rock, but these guys were the real rebels, making the kind of music they wanted to make while flying in the face of popular convention. You can count me in as a loyal Dawg follower from this point forward.
Original elpee version
A1. E.M.D. (David Grisman) (2:37)
A2. Swing 51 (Tony Rice) (4:51)
A3. Opus 57 (David Grisman) (2:56)
A4. Blue Midnite (David Grisman) (3:40)
A5. Pneumonia (David Grisman) (4:31)
B1. Fish Scale (Artie Traum) (7:30)
B2. Ricochet (Richard Somers/David Grisman) (2:05)
B3. Dawg’s Rag (David Grisman) (9:04)
Expanded compact disc version
A1. E.M.D. (2:37)
A2. Swing 51 (4:51)
A3. Opus 57 (2:56)
A4. Blue Midnite (3:40)
A5. Pneumonia (4:31)
A6. Minor Swing (2:59)
A7. Fish Scale (7:30)
A8. 16-16 (5:35)
A9. Ricochet (2:05)
A10. Dawg’s Rag (9:04)
The Players
David Grisman (mandolin), Bill Amatneek (bass), Darol Anger (violin, mandolin on B2), Todd Phillips (mandolin), Tony Rice (guitar). Produced and arranged by David Grisman; engineered by Bill Wolf.
The Pictures
Photographs by Robert Schleifer. Album design by Ted Sharpe.
The Plastic
Released on elpee in 1977 in the US (Kaleidoscope, F-5).
- Re-issued on expanded compact disc in 1986 in the US (Rhino, 71468-2).
