Search - Vassar Clements :: Vassar's Jazz

Vassar Vamps on Grapelli's Ground

Drew A. G. Engman | Pinon Hills, CA USA | 12/19/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Opinion: Slightly less than "great", a bit better than "REALLY good."



Vassar really shows his exquisite jazz chops on this album. An all instrumental CD, his band is tight, and everyone is challenged to keep up with his bright, fluid, tight, creative lines. Some of the licks get a little predictable, probably because, at the tempo some of the songs are executed, even these world-class players have to fall back on a few stock phrases to link together the more inspired melodious moments.



The all-original compositions by Vassar and his wife Millie are really good. Some are much more interesting than others, but none of them miss by much.



If you are hip to Stephane Grapelli, you will dig this album. If you're familiar with much of Vassar's other music, you might be surprised. It really has more bebop than bluegrass. It's less jazzy country swing, more straight up, all ahead full.



I have listened to, appreciated, and loved the music Vassar Clements has been playing for about 30 years now.

When I was in high school in the mid-1970's I used to "sneak" in to The Palomino Club in the San Fernando Valley of southern California to hear him (& Asleep At The Wheel, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, a dozen others) play. I had the classic "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" album Vassar played on with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and "Wake of the Flood" he played on with The Grateful Dead. He is a man of many styles, blending with the group and song he's playing at the time, but you can always tell it's Vassar on fiddle. I think this CD is worth adding to everyone's collection. You will probably put it on a lot more than many others.



Drew"