Live at Billy Bobs Asleep at the Wheel Dvd Review

This week'southward blasts from the past include an important album from Tony Rice, a bizarre release from Dan Reeder, and a superlative live performance album (in both CD and DVD) from Asleep at the Wheel.

Tony Rice – The
Bluegrass Guitar Collection

Rounder
Records

Tony Rice and the words
"bluegrass guitar" are rarely, if ever, separated. Along with Doc Watson, Dan
Crary, and Clarence White, Tony Rice has had more influence on modern
flatpicking than anyone else. This new anthology from Rounder shows the latitude
and scope of Tony's remarkable technique and musicality.

Joined by a veritable who's
who of bluegrass greats including Darol Anger, Bobby Hicks, Rickie Simpkins,
Richard Greene, Vassar Clements, Stuart Duncan and Sam Bush on fiddle, David
Grisman, Larry Rice, Doyle Lawson, Norman Blake, Sam Bush, John Reischman, and
Jimmy Gaudreau on mandolin, Todd Phillips, Mark Schatz, and Ronnie Simpkins on
bass, J. D. Crowe on banjo, Jerry Douglas on dobro, and Dr. Watson, Wyatt Rice,
and Norman Blake on guitar, this all instrumental anthology covers material from
14 dissimilar albums. Although the audio quality varies from acceptable to
excellent the musicianship remains stellar throughout. Rice'due south groups prove that
even on overexposed textile such every bit "Blackberry Blossom" or "Bill Cheatham"
great musicians accept something fresh and new to say.

Much has been written about
Tony Rice's chief axe, a 1935 Martin D-28 whose previous owner was none other
than Clarence White. The CD'southward comprehend features a close-upwards of the bullet hole in
its superlative. Tony acquired the guitar in 1975, and has played it almost
continuously ever since. He does not pamper information technology. The day subsequently playing on
Rockygrass'southward rainy outdoor stage in Lyons, Colorado, I watched him spread
cigarette ash on its top to absorb some of the moisture it picked up during his
waterlogged prepare. I've played his guitar. The action is so low that only Tony
tin produce fizz gratis sound from its electric-like set-upwards. In the hands of mere
mortals information technology sounds just like another poorly gear up upwardly former guitar instead of the
flattop holy grail.

The
characterization "must take album" is oft bandied virtually, just in the example of Tony Rice The Bluegrass Guitar Collection information technology is anything only hyperbole. Every aficionado of flatpicked
bluegrass-style guitar needs to take this disc in their collection.

Dan Reeder – Dan
Reeder

Oh
Boy Records

The
word unique has been so vastly overused in our age of hype that about manglers
of the English language feel obligated to add together most or very in front of it.
Unique is one of those digital words like pregnant. You either are or aren't –
on or off, yes or no. Nearly people and things labeled "very unique" are merely
slightly different, not truly unique at all. Then there is Dan Reeder. He is
unique, not extremely unique or semi-unique, merely only unique. He makes all
his own instruments, writes his ain material, records himself in his home
studio, and creates music that reflects his own atypical view of the world.

One
give-and-take that will never exist fastened to Dan Reeder is polished. His songs and
performances, just similar his bootleg instruments, have as many crude edges as a
woodworker who never uses sandpaper. Many of the cuts have background noise and
hum equally well as some tenuous tunings. While not truly low-fi, the recording
quality here is certainly far less than current state of the art. The songs
themselves are likewise rough. Some of them, such as "Work Song"" consist of simply
the lyrics I've got all the f****** piece of work I need" over and over over again. Others
like "These Are A Few of My Favorite Things" displays a dark view of the globe
that borders on ultramarine. But despite
his more often than not curmudgeonly outlook, the songs are fresh, funny, and infectious.
The "Work Song" gets a lot of airtime bouncing effectually in my cranium.

The
graphics on Dan Reeder likewise deserve
some attention. The pictures take a primitive power that echoes his music.
Images of a coffee cup in mid spill, a tube emitting noxious fumes, and a
portrait of Dan belongings his hand over a lit flame echo the primordial
directness of his songs. The liner notes also sport photos of his instruments.
After seeing Dan's handiwork you'll never think a Dan Electro or EKO guitar is
primitive once again. His instruments accept a certain infantile flavor reminiscent of
a half-dozen-year-old's kickoff pictures of mom and dad. His DeNAr FLEX amplifier marks
a true nadir of industrial pattern.

Need
a musical colonic? Give Dan Reeder a mind. I guarantee you will non waste the
word "unique" on undeserving wannabees again.

Comatose At The
Bike – Live at Billy Bob'southward Texas

DVD
& CD

Smith
Music Group

Asleep
at the Wheel has carved out a niche almost as large as Texas playing western
swing. Begun in 1969, Asleep at the
Wheel has stayed true to leader Ray Benson's vision of what land music
should audio like. Based on a manner pioneered by Bob Wills "the Elvis Presley
of western swing" Comatose at the Wheel features tight ensemble playing, hot
solos, and polished arrangements.

Asleep
at The Wheel'south latest release showcases the band in their native environs,
playing live in a Texas venue. It's available both equally a CD or DVD, and then if you
don't want to use your eyes you lot can opt for the CD. But for the total live
consequence, I strongly recommend the DVD. Different many live-operation DVD's, this
disc has excellent production values, including fine editing, skillful camera angles,
splendid sharpness, sumptuous color saturation, and lively cinematic pacing.
In short, this is hands the best alive concert DVD I've seen. Produced and
edited past Michael Drumm along with executive producers Rick Smith and Billy
Minick, this is ane of many DVD'due south in the
Live at Billy Bob'due south Texas serial. Other artists captured alive onstage include
Roy Clark, Gary Stewart, and Merle Haggard.

Since
its inception Asleep at the Wheel has had 90 different musicians in the
band. The current roster includes Ray
Benson on guitar and lead vocals, David Miller on bass and vocals, Jason
Roberts on fiddle, electric guitar, and vocals, Hayden Vitera on fiddle and
vocals, David Danger on drums, John Michael Whitby on piano and vocals, Jim
Tater on steel guitar and saxophone, and Cindy Cashdollar on steel guitar.
While singling out individuals in this precision musical unit of measurement is similar to
picking the best tasting colour for 1000&Ms, the twin fiddle work of Roberts
and Vitera can't help but make a stiff impression. Haydn Vitera also does a
sterling vocal job on the Vivan Keith and Ben Peters song "Earlier the Adjacent
Teardrop Falls" which was originally a big hit for Freddy Fender.

Along
with the xvi songs, the DVD includes ii keen special features; an
interview with Ray Benson, and a photograph gallery of still images. Unlike many
concert DVDs which offer only stereo or Dolby derived environs mixes, Live at Baton Bob's Texas includes Dolby
Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 discrete environs mixes in improver to a two-channel
Dolby Digital soundttack. I prefer the DTS audio because of its added bass
energy, but the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix too sounds swell. Recording engineers
Paul Whitehead and Bob Wright deserve a lot of credit for capturing Asleep at
the Bicycle's vibrant alive audio.

If
you are an Asleep at the Bicycle fan Alive
at Billy Bob'due south Texas is simply a must have. Even if you have only a
moderate involvement in western swing Alive
at Billy Bobs can turn you lot into a hardcore fan.

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Source: https://audiophilereview.com/audiophile-music/three-great-cds-and-one-dvd-from-2003/

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