Buellgrass - Across The Tracks
Released on vinyl as BIG DAY AT OJAI
Just a few short months ago I wrote about an excellent album that fused such diverse elements as Jazz (in the musical persona of Ellington and Monk), Blues and bluegrass. Big Day At Ojai is a stunning reminder that great creative music cannot be pigeonholed. From the opening of "Stardust," with its stately mandolin and bass duet, to the closing seconds of "Tennessee Waltz," this album never lets down, You may be stunned by the superbly swinging mandolin of Andy Statman and pleased by the singing Iyrical quality of Richard Greene's violin. Then, there is the alternately gruff and sensual saxophones of Marty Krystall, who also adds some piquant clarinet work. The harp work of the late Peter Ivers harkens back to the sound of Little Walter and it contains a swing and vitality that links it to the power of the classic big band horn section.