Big Mon: The Songs Of Bill Monroe
Though the late Bill Monroe is generally acknowledged as the father of bluegrass--he literally forged this strident musical hybrid from earlier mountain string-band styles in the 1940s--his musical legacy has reached far beyond the often narrow confines of the style he created. Fittingly, a giddy stylistic range of artists help Monroe disciple Ricky Skaggs prove this point on this brilliant salute to the Big Mon.Bruce Hornsbyopens with a haunting, soaring rendition of the murder ballad "Darlin' Corey."John Fogertyunleashes an absolutely stunning neorockabilly revival of "Blue Moon of Kentucky," a Monroe classic that was also an early hit forElvis Presley. With his deft scat singing and lead-guitar work,Steve Warinertransforms Monroe's stalwart "Heavy Traffic Ahead" into a sprightly jazz-pop excursion. Country-rockerCharlie Danielsalso shines on his reverent gospel-blues rendition of "I Am a Pilgrim." Though Skaggs keeps a surprisingly low profile throughout, he andJoan Osborneduet movingly with "On the Old Kentucky Shore." Skaggs's genre-blending tribute may make bluegrass purists bristle, but this collection succeeds as few other tributes have in reminding listeners of the amazing breadth of Monroe's legacy.--Bob Allen