Al's Bluegrass & Acoustic Page	Original Gif Animation
Introduction Acoustic Favorites Real Audio Clips Links	"If you ever feel sorrow for the deeds you have done and there's no hope for tomorrow, in the setting of the sun and an ocean is howling for the things that might have been, then that last good morning sunrise  would be the brightest you'd ever seen..."          -from 'Moonlight Midnight'             by Peter Rowan  (Old & In The Way)

I sometimes get laughed at because of my interest in  Bluegrass. It's not very 'trendy' to listen to banjo & mandolin, but once those instruments get under your skin there's no turning back. In music like this one can hear some of the roots & influences of musicians like the Grateful Dead, and Phish. There is something deep, pure and grass roots about bluegrass music that seems to speak of the sound of echoing mine shafts, chain gangs, and riding the rails on a flatbed with a bottle of hooch.

But it's not simply the 'vibe' that draws me to acoustic music- it's the pure and gorgeous tonality of fine acoustic instruments, played by enthusiastic and talented musicians who, while fit to out-pick many a famous rock stars licks, often don't get to enjoy the same rewards, either financially or terms of popular recognition. These boys can play.

Artists like Tony Rice, Dave Grisman, Pete Rowan, and countless others ply their musical genius, and for some reason only a few lucky people get exposed to their music, due to on-air-radio broadcasting choices.

Bluegrass is a music which speaks volumes. Of course there is more to acoustic music than just Bluegrass- David 'Dawg' Grisman has created an entire genre - 'Dawg Music' which is fluid, funky, multi-faceted, and wildly influenced by latin, jazz, rock, ethnic, and traditional music. If you've not heard DGQ (Grisman's Quintet) I highly recommend you give them a try- you'll find them & more in the tape trading section. and check out the Real Audio clips. Fans of the Grateful Dead may know Grisman best for his historic collaborations with Jerry Garcia, which are a must hear.

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Some artists I have experience of, and recommend- look for these in the  tape trading section.

• Sam Bush
• Garcia & Grisman
• Dave Grisman Quintet
• Nashville Bluegrass Band
• Old & In The Way
• Peter Rowan
• Seldom Scene
• Superpickers
• Tony Rice Unit

Links

• Cybergrass! is an excellent on-line bluegrass magazine. Hours of reading matter!
• Dawgnet is mandolinist Dave Grisman's Acoustic Disc record label site, great stuff, and a Dawgnet Mailing list for acoustic addicts.
• Old & In the Legion Band A *very* useful website for folks w/ no Garciabase, includes more detail than Garciabase too! Covers Old & In The Way and various incarnations of the JGB.