Search - Sam Bush :: Ice Caps: Peaks of Telluride

Sam Bush live is fabulous

Benj Thomas | 08/07/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you have never seen Sam in person, do so. Preferably find a place like the Birchmere in Northern Virginia, which is small enough that you get the flavor of the man. He is high energy, to say the least, and it would be easy to overlook his remarkable musicianship in the excitement of the performance. His old group, New Grass Revival, has provided me with about four out of the five top live musical experiences of my life (with more recent Sam Bush performances following close behind), and the spirit and intensity of those occasions is here on many of the cuts on this disk. Being in the presence (even on disk) of someone who is so gifted and so celebratory of this gift is a pleasure.Sam does love an audience, and that's why this CD is better, in my opinion, than his studio products. Other reviewers have commented on the assemblage of musicians on this disk, and they are right. It is wonderful music. I would single out "Same Ol' River" as my favorite after only a few listenings -- joy overflows, with Sam on mandolin, and Jerry Douglas on pedal steel. A really fine album."

New Grass fans, rejoice

Benj Thomas | 07/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Back in the mid-70s, mandolin player/violinist Sam Bush was the founding father of THE alltime progressive bluegrass band, New Grass Revival. The group evolved over the years, picking up bass player/vocalist John Cowan early, and, some years later, guitarist Pat Flynn and banjo player extraordinaire Bela Fleck. Along with the likes of David Grisman and his cadre of talented sidemen, as well as others such as Jerry Douglas, Bush developed a whole new genre known as New Grass music. And Telluride, tucked in the SW corner of Colorado, became the mecca of that music, with its annual "bluegrass" concert that, over the years, featured artists far afield from anything Bill Monroe would recognize. This disk celebrates Sam's 25 years of appearing @ Telluride. Long time fans of Bush will recognize many tunes, although they have not been "done to death" in his formidible recorded works. All the usual suspects are on hand, including Cowan, Fleck, Douglas, Randal & Scott. There's a loving tribute to Monroe, "Big Mon;" rocking w John Magnie of the Subdudes on "Angel to be." Bush picks up the electric guitar and plugs in the mando on a couple of tracks like "speak of the Devil" & "I put a spell on you". Highlights for real afficienados are a killer version of the instrumental "Stingray" and his sparse duets with Douglas on "Girl from North Country" and with Cowan on "Sailin Shoes." The interludes from "pastor Mustard" fail to produce the comic relief intended; I found them just annoying. And one can question some of the song selection: in his quest to give us some new recorded tunes, Sam overlooked some awfully good stuff, like "Funk 42," & "Howlin' at the Moon," to name just a couple. But these are quibbles. Any fan of NGR will want to add this to his/her collection. YOu probably wouldn't be reading this far if you weren't a fan. So buy it, & enjoy"

Sam, doin it again !

chris Donahue | Denver Colorado | 07/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What can you say. Sam is back with a new live CD from his career at Telluride bluegrass, CO. during the 90's. If you have never been to telluride bluegrass it almost makes it impossible to imagine just how good this new disc really is. Accompied by his fellow bluegrass buds (bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, and John Cowen) Sam brings his style of "fungrass" to it's highest level. The opening track (Girl from the North country) is from the 99 bluegrass and his is joined by Jerry Douglas as the two trade off licks side by side note for note. Bela joins in on the fun during the "Same Ol River" and his side kick for years, John Cowen, thumps his bass with Sam's haunting Fiddle during "Spooky Lane" and the "Lee Highway". The thumping though truly reaches it's "peaks" during Sam's cover of John Hiatt's " Memphis in the Meantime" and his own original "Stingray" If you love Sam Bush, this Disc is the creme de la creme. I'd give it 6 stars if I could. Thank you Sammie!"