Scott Vestal: Bluegrass 2022 (Instrumentals)
Song List: John Hardy, EMD, Gold Rush, Reuben, Blackberry Blossom, Welcome to New York, Tipper, Steam Powered Aero Plane, Lonesome Fiddle Blues, Train 45.
Scott Vestal has received the Banjo Player of the Year award from the IBMA several times, and his previous Bluegrass 2020 instrumental album was a finalist for the Album of the Year award. Scott has gathered top musicians for this latest album: Cody Kilby on guitar, Tim Crouch on fiddle, Randy Kohrs on resophonic guitar, Byron House on bass, and Jonah Horton on mandolin. With such a wide range of talent and skill, it’s easy to hear another finalist instrumental album award in the future.
The song selection includes “EMD (Eat My Dust)” from David Grisman, “Tipper” from Tony Rice, and “Welcome to New York” written by Bill Emerson and Doyle Lawson. ‘EMD” begins with a crunchy mandolin solo in tandem with a fiddle rhythm that create a tension resolved by guitar and dobro followed by bass riffs and a final banjo solo that trades back to a mandolin and fiddle interplay. Banjo and guitar are featured in “Tipper” with mandolin solos while the other instruments taking a stronger rhythm role. Jonah and Scott have featured roles in “Welcome to New York” with Tim’s fiddle adding flourishes and the concluding guitar and dobro playing matched in tandem. The traditional “Blackberry Blossom,” “John Hardy,” and “Reuben” will inspire festival jam players to match the clarity of tone and timing displayed in this collection. The band gives a liveliness and bounce to John Hartford’s “Steam Powered Aereo Plane” that will make your feet want to dance and your mind try to remember John’s words in the song. “Lonesome Fiddle Blues” is a five minute romp which showcases the other instruments playing the melody with less fiddle than other versions. This will be hailed as another landmark instrumental album.