Mel Bay Evergreen: Mandolin Music for Christmas
Mandolinist Butch Baldassari has created new interest in this age-old instrument and is luring legions of new admirers to the music he creates. With mastery of a wide variety of mandolin styles, Baldassari's versatility is unmatched he moves from bluegrass festivals to symphony halls with ease and grace, earning respect and admiration in these seemingly disparate worlds.Not just a performer and bandleader, Baldassari is widely respected as a teacher, currently serving as Adjunct Associate Professor of Mandolin at Vanderbilt University's renowned Blair School of Music. His instructional videos, books and tapes are among the most widely used by aspiring mandolin players, and his workshops at festivals including Telluride, Rocky Grass Bluegrass Academy, Winterhawk and Grass Valley are standing-room-only sessions. His annual appearances at the Classical Mandolin Society are among the event's most popular.With his own successful record label, SoundArt Recordings, Baldassari has broadened both his reach to new audiences, and his influence on the music. Butch is also the leader of the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble, America's only large touring mandolin ensemble. Their debut recording, Plectrasonics, is on CMH Records.In Butch Baldassari and the music he creates, the past, present and future of this small, yet richly powerful instrument are in the best of hands.