Old & In the Gray
Thanks toJerry Garcia's participation, Old & in the Way'sself-titled 1975 one-shot albumwas enormously popular--essentially, it made bluegrass music safe for post-Woodstock hippies. By mixing traditional numbers, pop covers, and catchy originals, theGrateful Deadguitarist (and bluegrass banjoist) and his pickin' pals--guitarist and lead singerPeter Rowan, mandolinistDavid Grisman, fiddlerVassar Clements, and bassist John Kahn--broke musical (as well as cultural) boundaries. Old & in the Gray reunites Rowan, Grisman, and Clements, with banjoist and vocalistHerb Pedersenfilling in for the late Garcia and bassist Bryn Bright replacing the late Kahn. The result is a solid effort, propelled by rich vocal work by Rowan and Pedersen and fiery instrumental performances by Grisman and Clements. The song selection is delightfully eclectic:John Hartford's "Good Old Boys,"Townes Van Zandt's "Pancho and Lefty," and theRolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women" accompany gems from theCarter Family, theStanley Brothers, andBill Monroe, not to mention several fine Rowan originals. Garcia is missed; he may not have been the world's most proficient banjo player, but his ragged voice provided the band with much of its soul and charm. Still, these one-time young Turks of bluegrass may have become the genre's elder statesmen, but their forward-thinking approach to music-making hasn't changed a bit.--David Hill