The Bottom Line
Pros
- "Pretty Polly" Ralph Stanley & Patty Loveless
- "Let Me Touch You For Awhile" Alison Krauss & Union Station
- "Seven Wonders" Nickel Creek
Cons
- None.
Description
- A Gathering of Living Legends in the bluegrass community.
- Recorded at the historic Ryman Auditorium.
- Includes an appearance by musical legend Bruce Hornsby.
Guide Review - Various Artists - All-Star Bluegrass Celebration
In a truly historic event that was broadcast on PBS, most of the top names in bluegrass converged on the Ryman Auditorium for a celebration of their music. Current bluegrass favorites such as Alison Krause & Union Station and Nickel Creek shared a stage with living legends such as Ralph Stanley and Earl Scruggs. Ricky Skaggs hosted the event that also drew artists like Patty Loveless, Travis Tritt, Vince Gill and Bruce Hornsby to participate in a style of music that they love.Some favorites on the album are "Shady Grove" with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, "Pretty Polly" with Patty Loveless and Ralph Stanley and "Get Down On Your Knees and Pray" by The Del McCoury Band. Among the songs Ralph Stanley performed was one from 'O Brother Where Art Thou,' "O Death." That is an incredibly powerful song. Bruce Hornsby joined Ricky Skaggs for "Darlin' Corey" and leant his own distinctive style of music. Alison Krauss and Union Station performed their recent hit, "Let Me Touch You For Awhile." Of course, no bluegrass celebration would be complete without Earl Scruggs doing "Foggy Mountain Breakdown."
The whole album is nonstop great bluegrass. The thing that I have always loved about this style of music is the talent and joy the musicians have with their instruments. You can tell that they are doing something that isn't a job for them. They may make a living doing it, but it is something they love to do. This is an album well worth checking out.
