Bluegrass Tracks [CD]

With it's combination of finesse, sparkle, grace and wit, Bluegrass Tracks is a virtuosic statement from master mandolinist Andy Statman, leading an all-star ensemble of fiddle legend Byron Berline (some of his final recordings before his death in 2021), banjoist Ron Stewart, guitarist Bryan Sutton and double bassist Mike Bub, with guest turns from Ricky Skaggs on mandolin and Tim O'Brien on vocals and guitar. Following 2019's expansive Monroe Bus, with remarkable flights of fancy inspired by the "Father of Bluegrass" Bill Monroe, Statman here hews closer to the traditions implied by the album title. But never do he and his cohorts lose the flair for distinctive delight that has marked his venerable career, whether as a pioneering explorer of Jewish music (as a clarinetist) or pursuing his passion for bluegrass and American folk. Produced by long-time friend Edward Haber (whose Shefa Records label is releasing the album), these tracks shine, with originals from the breezy "Sycamore Street" to the radiant "Blessing" to the bluesy stroll "I Wouldn't Do It." Complementing these are two Monroe tunes (the playful album-opener "Stoney Lonesome" and "Brown County Breakdown"), the traditional "Bile 'em Cabbage Down" (featuring O'Brien) and a near-frantic interpolation of "Katy Hill," tying together generations of brilliance while pointing to the music's future.