Customer Reviews

Hot Rize

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It's hard today to remember the impact that Hot Rize had on the bluegrass world, but this album will remind you. They emphasized an extremely clean, sparse sound built around Tim O'Brien's hard-edged pure natural tenor, Pete "Dr Banjo" Wernick's analytical yet punchy solos, the "less is more", truly unique lead guitar of Charles Sawtelle (RIP), and Nick Forster's all-around musicianship. The songs are not overworked even today, and the standards (Durham's Reel, Prayer Bells of Heaven) get a spare treatment that even today makes me sit up straight in my seat when I hear them. Just because they could play every note on the fretboard and hit every harmony, didn't mean they had to!

I've only been to one BG concert.

I only own one BG record (yes, real vinyl)

and this is it and I bought it at the concert. Now, 15 years later I'm buying it again on CD and it will become an instant "car CD-changer classic".

This CD you must have if you love bluegrass! Every song on it is great

Do not mistake Hot Rize for some "hillbilly jugband" they are truly talented and the music will get your feet tappin and you will just feel energized listening to the music. This is a terrific album Hot Rize hails from Boulder Colorado and have played telluride bluegrass festivals in the early nineties.They were a force to be reckoned with in the bluegrass scene of the 80's and they are still my favorite bluegrass band these days. With bands like Leftover Salmon becoming increasingly popular and integrating elements of bluegrass in their music, bluegrass is becoming more and more appreciated these days, but I still look back to Hot Rize to help me out when I need some good ole' bluegrass.For a true bluegrass album this is the one to go with if you like the more BG style songs of leftover albums then check this album of Hot Rize out I promise you, you will not be dissapointed, and then check out their other albums too they are not a one trick pony song after song is energized bluegrass on all albums

"Bluegrass music continues to grow and blossom, and these guys are right smack dab on the cutting edge of what is happening in this music today!" - Quoted from an introduction to the audience preceding a Hot Rize show.