David Grisman Quintet
A string band pilgrim who had already soldiered through bluegrass, folk,  and rock, mandolinist David Grisman helped jump start a new chapter in  instrumental music with the release of this 1977 album, carving out a jubilant  acoustic style borrowing equally from Bill Monroe's bluegrass legacy and Django  Reinhardt's '30s swing as immortalized by his Quintet of the Hot Club of France.   Grisman's band, including violinist Darol Anger and multi-instrumentalist Mike  Marshall, bring jaunty lyricism to a set that introduces this hybrid fully- formed. Grisman would continue to explore its boundaries with various lineups  (including collaborations with the peerless Stephane Grappelli, violinist for  the original Hot Club), but he would never improve on the music here.--Sam  Sutherland