Search - Old School Freight Train :: Run

Eclectic set exudes originality, tact and innovation

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 06/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Playing Time - 55:04 -- Hailing from Charlottesville, Va., Old School Freight Train is a quintet that chooses bluegrass instruments for their largely original material that incorporates blues, jazz, Latin, swing and rock grooves. Why, they even take on a Celtic motif with an original "Mr. Parshif's Jig" that eventually evolves into the lightning speed of a reel. Their only covers on this project are Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" and Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927," both tastefully rendered in fine new acoustic fashion. David Grisman, who guests with his mandolin on "Euridice," offers that the band caught his attention, and they now have a place on the Acoustic Disc label. Joe Craven plays percussion on two tracks.



OSFT's contemporary acoustic music is arranged and built around evocative lyrics which should've been included in the CD jacket. Guitarist Jesse Harper sings with exhilarating electricity, more characteristic of a jazz vocalist. The dynamics in the band's music call for rhythmic and tempo variations that impart power and intensity. Instrumental breaks are shared among all the band members, and their song's appealing melodies are lyrical and fluid.



Besides Harper, Old School Freight Train includes Pete Frostic (mandolin), Ben Krakauer (banjo), Nate Leath (fiddle), and Darrell Muller (bass). The title track and some of the other offerings ("Drama Queen" or "Broken Pieces") have commercial leanings which clearly open up the door for significant airplay. The closer, "Dance" is explosive and distinctive. The band's eclectic nature covers a great deal of ground from bluegrass ("Henry Brown" and "Lookee Here") to R&B ("Superstition") to adventures south of the border ("Tango Chutney" and "Euridice"). Pete Frostic's "Trick Dog" is also a zealous stringed exploration featuring mandocello.



The band has been together since 2000 and won awards at Telluride and Rockygrass. Their first self-titled album came out in 2002. With sound and energy that get an audience to sit up and take notice, OSFT is steaming up the hill of success. Don't let "Run" fool you into thinking that they are suffering from an identity crisis. These boys clearly have the musical acumen to journey into whatever territory their adventurous tastes take them. Their music exudes originality, tact and innovation. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

"

Acoustic Delight

MidWest Phil | Northfield, Illinois United States | 06/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had the unexpected delight last night of seeing this extremely talented quintet at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Their fresh sound is accurately captured on this CD.



Old School Freight Train has found a new recipe for making some very tasty music: Two cups of excellent song writing, 5 scoops of instrumental virtuosity (guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, upright bass), steamed together with the rhythmic sensibilities of a jazz band, served up with pop-right tightness.



More creative than new-grass, more focused than a jam band, these guys sound like Nickel Creek meet the (American Beauty/Workingman's Dead era) Grateful Dead. Well crafted acoustic music with a focus on the song and the feeling makes this CD something special."

A must have for any music fan

Michael Sandman | Spencer, MA USA | 05/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently attended a concert in Boston in which Old School Freight Train was one of the featured bands. They played some really different music with a great sound. During intermission I purchased the cd "Run" and briefly talked to mandolin player Pete Frostic.I am very glad I did.It is the freshest sound I have heard in a long time. Part bluegrass, part latin, part rock, part blues, even a hint of funk (cover version of the Stevie Wonder song "Superstition" which by the way is really cool). From the very first track "Run" you realise that these kids are really something special. Lead singer and guitarist (also plays some realy kicking percussion) Jesse Harper has an excellent voice which really adds to the bands unique sound. The album is produced by legendary mandolin player David Grisman who does an excellent job producing this album, especially the song "Broken Pieces" an anti war song with some excellent lyrics such as "and when we you learn it's children who get burned when bombs fall in foreign lands" and a really great melody and crisp sound. Another high point is the latin sounding instrumental "Tango Chutney" this song can best be described in 3 letters WOW!I very highly recommend this cd to everyone, especially those who like bluegrass and rock bands like the Grateful Dead. (...)I look forward to hearing more from these guys in the future and I'msure you will too after hearing this cd."