Ah, The Earls Of Leicester, showing once again the dazzling
musicianship that won them this year’s Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album.
It
takes real confidence to stretch and slink your way into an intro, the
way Shawn Camp does in this first number. Think about it: Anyone else
would be hammy, heavy-handed, goading the audience to cheer and whistle,
in that tired old way that so many entertainers have.
That’s not
good enough for these guys. Listen to the interplay between Camp and
Jerry Douglas’s singing dobro lines. The way banjoist Charlie Cushman
holds back so tastefully, surprising you with sparkling fills late in
the number.
As for the second number, all I can say is, Johnny
Warren! Split-second timing; beautiful, clean articulation; and having
fun all the while. There’s not a sterile moment to be had, thank God.
These are The Earls of Leicester with “Big Black Train” and Black-Eyed Suzie”.
No comments:
Post a Comment