Bill Monroe - Bean Blossom
Though bluegrass can thrive in the studio, it can't quite compare to hearing the music live, and all of the energy and tradition of this legendary performance comes across on Bean Blossom, the audio document put together by the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe. The concert features most of the great bluegrass artists of the time (the early 70s), and the results are expected: expert musicianship and essential versions of many of the great songs in bluegrass. You even get "Ballad of Jed Clampett" for your listening pleasure! Really though, what comes across is the energy of the crowd and its identification with the performers; they're clearly all in this together, and it really is one big party. I know bluegrass isn't what most people think of when they go to check out new music, but like jazz and the blues, this is truly American music, created by Americans, and passed down through generations. While the instruments, like the banjo and the fiddle, aren't what we're used to hearing in popular music, once you adjust to the difference in sound, all you can hear is the beauty and history in this thrilling performance. Here's the final track, a joyous performance of the classic spiritual.
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (mp3)