Friday
October 17, 2008
8:00 p.m.
First Church
of Christ Scientist
522 B St.
Petaluma
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$18 advance
$20 door
Ticket Info
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(707) 542-1894
Acoustic guitarist Russ Barenberg is known as one of the most melodic instrumentalists in contemporary acoustic music, and his compositions are among the finest the genre has to offer. Perhaps best known for his collaborations with Dobro master Jerry Douglas and bassist Edgar Meyer, his recent release "When At Last" on Compass Records reflects a continued dedication to vibrant roots-based melodies and ensemble interplay.
Barenberg was recently nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental performance for "Little Monk," the opening track from the album.
He got his start with the groundbreaking bluegrass band Country Cooking in 1970. Along with Douglas, he worked for several years accompanying Irish singer Maura O'Connell. In 1988 he recorded his third solo album, "Moving Pictures," a beautiful collection of original instrumentals featuring Douglas, Meyer, Bela Fleck, Mark O'Connor and Stuart Duncan, among others. Barenberg's trio with Douglas and Meyer, active from 1989-2001, helped reshape the direction of modern acoustic music. their album, "Skip, Hop & Wobble," has influenced a new generation of acoustic instrumentalists.
Barenberg played on the soundtracks for several Ken Burns films, including "The Civil War," "The Brooklyn Bridge," "The Shakers," and "Huey Long." In 1996 barenberg worked with Douglas, fiddler Darol Anger, and Los Angeles-based music producer Snuffy Walden to create a soundtrack for "Homecoming," a film staring Anne Bancroft.
Bryan Sutton is one of the most high-profile acoustic guitarists in bluegrass and country music today, a first-call Nashville session player whose jaw-dropping technique, deep background in tradition, and fluency in multiple styles have landed him important gigs with Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas Earl Scruggs, the Dixie Chicks, Bela Fleck, and others.
Sutton's most recent album, "Not Too Far From The Tree," is a series of duets with guitar masters including Doc Watson, Tony Rice and Norman Blake. "I really like the conversation that goes on in a duet," he explains, "I like the reactions, and with this record I tried to capture as much of those nuances as possible. In a duo you have the freedom to go as far as each person is willing to go."
Sutton not only wanted to showcase his heroes, but demonstrate just how far his own playing has evolved under their influence. however, far from aping his partners, he simply listens and reacts, allowing the music to grow naturally. "There's a conscious level when I'm playing with these guys, where i'll be inspired to do something just because I hear it," he says, "I'm a real reactionary player. When I hear something, whether it be a cool lick from norman or some weird chord David Grier is doing, it's going to inspire me to go somewhere spontaneously. It's all improv on that level."
Visit them online:
Russ Barenberg
Bryan Sutton