Full Circle

Vassar Clements | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 12, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Oms Records
• ASIN: B00005J9Y0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #290,934 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Vassar Clements began his career as a fiddler playing bluegrass with Bill Monroe in 1958. He proved to be such a versatile musician that during the next four decades he played honky-tonk with Faron Young, rock with the Grateful Dead, and jazz with Stephane Grappelli. On Full Circle he returns to the high lonesome sound that inspired him to pick up the fiddle all those years ago, but from the opening track--a cover of Cream's "White Room" that features Béla Fleck on banjo--it's clear this is not an ordinary collection of traditional bluegrass songs. But even when Clements is exploring acoustic psychedelia, as he does on "White Room," or giving the Beatles' classic "Yesterday" a bluegrass makeover, his playing is full of down-home charm. And when he plays an old bluegrass number like "Your Love Is Like a Flower," which includes lead vocals by Ricky Skaggs, or joins Jim and Jesse McReynolds on their classic tune "Hard Hearted," it's a reminder that he is one of the most inspired country fiddlers to ever draw a bow. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars He Has Returned!, May 9, 2002

By 

TheHighlander (Richfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Full Circle (Audio CD)

The title Full Circle is full of meaning. Vassar has returned to his roots, bluegrass. He is one of the all-time best bluegrass fiddlers and too great a talent to be tamed. He has played with Bill Monroe, Gordon Lighfoot, J.J. Cale, David Sanborn, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Bnad and many others. He is a well regarded jazz fiddler. In short, a virtuoso! This CD brings him back to where he belongs.

However, this CD is not a traditional CD (although it does contain Bill Monroe covers), it is a progressive CD with covers of the rock band Cream (White Room) and The Beatles (I've Just Seen a Face) as well as a Nitty Gritty Dirt Band song.

On a more personal note, I have shared a meal with this man and had conversation with him. He is a true gentleman and an icon of the bluegrass hierachy.

Because of Vassar's status in the bluegrass community he was able to bring in the cream of the crop to play on his CD, including Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, JD Crowe, Peter Rowan, Alan O'Bryant, John Cowan, Jess McReynolds and Bryan Sutton. Buy this and give it a listen, if you like bluegrass, you'll like this.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is there a better fiddle player?, June 29, 2002

By 

Linda W Moore (Raleigh NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Full Circle (Audio CD)

Maybe there will be a better fiddle player born some day, but as far as I'm concerned there never has been yet. Vassar can do it all, and the thing I like about "Full Circle" is that he does it all on this one CD.

I like Bluegrass because it keeps the music grounded, and on this one, with guys like Bela Fleck, Vassar is able to really branch out but keep the music lots of fun. Now...back to the woodshed for me!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vassar Rules, August 19, 2001

By 

John E. Richardson (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Full Circle (Audio CD)

If you have ever liked Vassar...and what music fan hasn't, You will love this one. Vassar is simply the best and he proves that at age 72 he hasn't lost one iota of his skills. He's amazing. A cast of greats helping out is certainly a help, but Vassar Clements is the star of the show.