Kyle Cantrell - Emcee
Sam Passamano - President of Rural Rhythm Records
Carrie Hassler has a well-modulated, hard driving bluegrass voice that blends nearly perfectly with the very fine young band she's been travelling with for several years. She, as well as several other young emerging women singers, have received undeserved criticism for singing without playing instruments. As bluegrass music has become more sophisticated and difficult, it's time that the voice be recognized as an extremely difficult instrument that takes a lifetime to master and great concentration to perform on. To ask fine singers to pick and sing is a journey too far. It's worth noting that very few pickers who sing pick and sing simultaneously. Many continue to brush the strings while singing, but all their concentration is focused on their voices while they sing. When singers are allowed to do what they do best, without having to split their attention, both their vocal presentation and the band's instrumental work is improved.
Carrie Hassler
Audie Blaylock and Redline
Audie Blaylock
Michael Martin Murphey and Carrie Hassler Duet - Wildfire with Audie Blaylock
Lou Reid Joins In
One of the pleasures of events like the Rural Rhythm showcase is the producers' putting together combinations of people from different bands to permit unusual sounds and effects. The use of a variety of Rural Rhythm artists allowed their versatility and ability to shine throughout the entire evening.
IIIrd Tyme Out
Russell Moore
Steve Dilling
Wayne Benson
Justin Haynes
Edgar Laudermilk
Michael Martin Murphey Responds to Gospel Quartet
Lyn Anderson and Carl Jackson Join Russell Moore for Rocky Top
Lyn Anderson
On Friday June 4, 2010, as part of the Graves Mountain Festival in Syria, VA, Rural Rhythm Records will be celebrating its fifty-fifth anniversary by presenting a whole day of Rural Rhythm artists. The event will be recorded live with Kyle Cantrell as emcee and presented later on Sirius/XM radio. It's truly a delight to see Sirius/XM return to live recordings of festival events. To announce this event, Carl Jackson has written a song about the history of Graves Mountain, which was debuted at the Rural Rhytym Showcase, sung and played by an all-star jam. The rest of the line-up for next year's Graves Mountain Festival is equally luminous.
Carl Jackson
Mark Newton and Sam Passamano
Here's a video of Carl's new song recorded at the event.
Graves Mountain Memories
The Rural Rhythm Records Showcase was an exciting and enjoyable event. Since it was the only such event we were invited to attend, we particularly enjoyed it. Our thanks to the folks at Rural Rhythm for including us.
Good job Ted. You're an ace reporter. Love your stories and the photos. You deserve VIP treatment!
ReplyDeleteMichael Keith
Great coverage of this event, Ted. Sammy Passamano has done a wonderful job transforming the legacy label Rural Rhythm into one of the major forces in bluegrass music today. This particular video clip was interesting on several levels, one of which was the relationships of the musicians involved. For instance, this was the first time I had seen Mark Newton and Sammy Shelor pick together since the Virginia Squires days. Mike Hartgrove was with Russell Moore and Wayne Benson for the first time since Mike left IIIrd Tyme Out. Sammy Shelor used to fill in for Ben Eldridge in the Seldom Scene from time to time, and here he was with Lou Reid again. Wonderful tune and wonderful event. I wish all the best to Rural Rhythm and look forward to the great music they will bring to us all.
ReplyDeleteAll the IBMA posts have been interesting, but this one especially so. I'm glad you were able to go and give us another view of the gathering. June's right: you deserve VIP treatment! Also, the video came through just fine, and is a good addition to the blog; I don't think it slowed down the site. Many thanks, and see you soon...
ReplyDeleteI would like to have a quality recording of the Carolina in the Pines duet by MMM and Lou Reid. Do you know if a good recording of this is available, other than the Youtube video ?
ReplyDeleteThanks