Customer Reviews

Ice Caps: Peaks of Telluride

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you have never seen Sam in person, do so. Preferably find a place like the Birchmere in Northern Virginia, which is small enough that you get the flavor of the man. He is high energy, to say the least, and it would be easy to overlook his remarkable musicianship in the excitement of the performance. His old group, New Grass Revival, has provided me with about four out of the five top live musical experiences of my life (with more recent Sam Bush performances following close behind), and the spirit and intensity of those occasions is here on many of the cuts on this disk. Being in the presence (even on disk) of someone who is so gifted and so celebratory of this gift is a pleasure.

Sam does love an audience, and that's why this CD is better, in my opinion, than his studio products. Other reviewers have commented on the assemblage of musicians on this disk, and they are right. It is wonderful music. I would single out "Same Ol' River" as my favorite after only a few listenings -- joy overflows, with Sam on mandolin, and Jerry Douglas on pedal steel. A really fine album.

Back in the mid-70s, mandolin player/violinist Sam Bush was the founding father of THE alltime progressive bluegrass band, New Grass Revival. The group evolved over the years, picking up bass player/vocalist John Cowan early, and, some years later, guitarist Pat Flynn and banjo player extraordinaire Bela Fleck. Along with the likes of David Grisman and his cadre of talented sidemen, as well as others such as Jerry Douglas, Bush developed a whole new genre known as New Grass music. And Telluride, tucked in the SW corner of Colorado, became the mecca of that music, with its annual "bluegrass" concert that, over the years, featured artists far afield from anything Bill Monroe would recognize. This disk celebrates Sam's 25 years of appearing @ Telluride. Long time fans of Bush will recognize many tunes, although they have not been "done to death" in his formidible recorded works. All the usual suspects are on hand, including Cowan, Fleck, Douglas, Randal & Scott. There's a loving tribute to Monroe, "Big Mon;" rocking w John Magnie of the Subdudes on "Angel to be." Bush picks up the electric guitar and plugs in the mando on a couple of tracks like "speak of the Devil" & "I put a spell on you". Highlights for real afficienados are a killer version of the instrumental "Stingray" and his sparse duets with Douglas on "Girl from North Country" and with Cowan on "Sailin Shoes." The interludes from "pastor Mustard" fail to produce the comic relief intended; I found them just annoying. And one can question some of the song selection: in his quest to give us some new recorded tunes, Sam overlooked some awfully good stuff, like "Funk 42," & "Howlin' at the Moon," to name just a couple. But these are quibbles. Any fan of NGR will want to add this to his/her collection. YOu probably wouldn't be reading this far if you weren't a fan. So buy it, & enjoy

This CD is one of the best that I have purchased in years. If you want to hear folk, rock, progressive bluegrass, jazz, and music which exceeds categorization...then this is the CD for you. There is a new sound/tempo/drive with every track. Sam Bush is incredible!! He is the musician's artist and will continue to impress you no matter how much you listen. Judging this CD on the 20 second poor sound quality samples is a crime, especially considering some songs are almost 9 minutes. To think that this was recorded live just makes you appreciate his this work even more. BUY YOU WANT ME SORRY!!

Ever since Sam Bush founded the New Grass Revival, purists and pickers of nits the world over have complained, "That ain't bluegrass." Well, it ain't. Ask yourself this question: "Do I want to hear stringed instruments played loud, fast, and well by some of the best musicians the genre has produced?"?

Still puzzled? Here's more data - Sam on mando, electric mando, fiddle, and electric guitar. Bela Fleck on banjo with Sammie for a 9 minute acoustic Stingray rager. Another NGR alum, John Cowan showing up for most of the cuts. Sam covers Bob Dylan, Bill Monroe and John Hiatt. The 2 snippets of stage banter from Pastor Mustard.

Look, just buy it. Really.

What can you say. Sam is back with a new live CD from his career at Telluride bluegrass, CO. during the 90's. If you have never been to telluride bluegrass it almost makes it impossible to imagine just how good this new disc really is. Accompied by his fellow bluegrass buds (bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, and John Cowen) Sam brings his style of "fungrass" to it's highest level. The opening track (Girl from the North country) is from the 99 bluegrass and his is joined by Jerry Douglas as the two trade off licks side by side note for note. Bela joins in on the fun during the "Same Ol River" and his side kick for years, John Cowen, thumps his bass with Sam's haunting Fiddle during "Spooky Lane" and the "Lee Highway". The thumping though truly reaches it's "peaks" during Sam's cover of John Hiatt's " Memphis in the Meantime" and his own original "Stingray" If you love Sam Bush, this Disc is the creme de la creme. I'd give it 6 stars if I could. Thank you Sammie!

I have not listened to anything by Sam Bush before, but he is clearly a stellar mandolin and fiddle player. Not only does Sam play great, he is surrounded by numerous other great musicians. With Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, and numerous others, we have the best newgrass musicians jamming together. Another noticable thing about this disk is in addition to virtuoso playing, Sam Bush sings well.

I love it.
Telluride, one of the most beautiful places on earth and the best place to hear Sam's music.
I was lucky to attend this festivals many times and see New Grass Revival here, and it was always like a dream.
This new album by Sam is wonderful, great tunes and great players.
This is the spirit of Telluride, THE mando king.

I heard Sam for the first time play with Lyle Lovett last summer. It was an amazing show with Sam on the mandolin. This album has met all my expectations for great blue grass. Same Ol' River simply rocks.

Yes, it was me and 10,000 of my closest personal friends jammed against the stage, dancing and singing "Same Old River" as Sam and Bela tore it up on stage! The temperature was falling fast on that high mountain evening, but we never even felt it - man what a vibe!

It was well worth the drive from Georgia to be there, and more than worth a measly twenty bucks to own this incredible recording.

BUY IT! LISTEN TO IT! LIVE IT!!

Enthusiastic and inspiring art. Best of the jazz-grass to date.