Hillbilly Jazz

Vassar Clements, Hillbilly Jazz | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 29, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder / Umgd
• ASIN: B000000MEY
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,890 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #47 in Music > Indie Music > Country > Bluegrass
  • #50 in Music > Country > Western Swing
  • #84 in Music > Pop > By Decade > 1980s

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vassar and the Boys Stretch Out, September 6, 2001

By 

Gary Popovich "Retired Banjo Picker" (Chesterfield, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hillbilly Jazz (Audio CD)

During the '70's, fiddlin' Vassar Clements was in such high demand as a side man that it was damned near impossible to purchase an album that did NOT feature his remarkable playing.In addition to his key roles in ground breaking efforts such as "Will the Circle be Unbroken" and "Old and in the Way", Vassar made the rounds among such disparate pop stars as Paul McCartney, Elvin Bishop, and Dickie Betts - and put out some product of his own, as well.

"Hillbilly Jazz" mostly features the Bob Wills/Texas swing side of Vassar's playing, ably assisted by a strong backup group featuring David Bromberg on acoustic and slide guitars and some great pedal steel work by Doug Jerrigan. In addition to covering the Wills hits "San Antonio Rose" and "Take Me Back to Tulsa", there's a great version of Benny Goodman's "Breakfast Feud" (Jerrigan particularly shines on this one), a bluesy "Sittin' on Top of the World", and closes with a gorgeous instrumental version of Bromberg's "Last Song for Shelby Jean." What really makes this collection work is while there's some wonderful picking going on, nothing ever sounds forced. The vocals (shared by Vassar and Gordon Terry) give the session a relaxed feel that someone still keeps the listener's attention.

This effort is a must-have for fans of Vassar, and a whole lotta fun for fans of swing, country, and bluegrass music.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb!, October 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hillbilly Jazz (Audio CD)

This is Bar-B-que music at it's best. The line up is incredible! Lovers of Vassar Clements take note, he had some good recording days making this one. Bromberg was cooking along with the others, I bought it for the Vassar element, but this recording is just S'wonderful, Texas Swing players like Strait and Gimbel, Asleep at the Wheel etc... probably all own a copy and should. This is a masterpiece, in a live-sounding setting. Dig in and enjoy!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, it's on CD, October 15, 1999

By 

Jimbo (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hillbilly Jazz (Audio CD)

I purchased the vinyl version of this album in 1979 after first hearing it at the Maintenance Shop, a bar/music venue on the Iowa State University campus. I've long entertained the notion of purchasing a new turntable just so I could listen to it again. What a pleasure to find it on CD ! A perfect introduction to road house country and bluegrass...