Jam

Mike Marshall, Darol Anger

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 20, 1999)
• Original Release Date: April 20, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Compass Records
• ASIN: B00000IIS1
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #279,870 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Your hackles may raise at the sight of Darol Anger or Mike Marshall's name in the context of country or folk music, but as avatars of an indefinable genre--call it "jazzgrass"--they've taken fiddle, mandolin, and guitar into some shockingly imaginative places, even if the results can sometimes be more intriguing as theory than as music. The two former David Grisman sidemen may claim to be making "stringband music for the next millennium," but this collaboration jettisons traditional structures completely, while still finding some shockingly beat-savvy textures--courtesy of Derek Jones's moaning fretless bass and Aaron Johnston's half-rock/half-jazz drumming--as well as some luxuriant, Eastern-based melodies, especially the opening "Couscous" and the final group improvisation (of three) "Autumn Aleatorics." The eclectic influences can be measured in the cover choices--Hendrix, Bach, and Brazilian mandolinist Jacob Do Bandolim--and the overall approach is that of world music shot through with heady, challenging improvisation. Jam is the funkiest, earthiest album Anger and Marshall have made to date. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Blues, February 8, 2000

By	Stephen Dunsford (Pacific Grove, California) - See all my reviews

"Jam" is jam packed with some of the best violin blues I have ever heard. Every track is great, and the skill of Mr. Anger is phenominal! Mr. Anger utilizes the bass, trap, guitar, violin and viola to provide the listner with nonstop entertainment. I highly recommend this cd.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lives up to Its Name, December 30, 2004

By	Jam Man (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

I highly recommend this CD, as well as At Home and On the Range: The Duo Live, by these two innovative and talented acoustic music virtuosos. While "On the Range" features a stripped-down acoustic performance (consisting of just the duo), Jam is a collection of genre-obscuring compositions and improvisations by Darol and Mike along with a fretless bassist and percussionist.

If you enjoy "Newgrass" (i.e., Grisman, Tony Rice, etc.) or Bela Fleck, you simply will be blown away by this album.

3.0 out of 5 stars feels cold, austere, January 18, 2010

By	OH Packerfan "Go Pack Go" (Cincinnati, OH United States) - See all my reviews

I came back to this CD after several years, & was surprised how cold it felt. I am not sure just why that is the case. There is something missing, though, when you compare this work against some of the other stuff these fine musicians have done over the years, or certainly when you compare it against the work done by their peers & sometimes collaborators, such as David Grisman, Sam Bush, & Chris Thile. "The Gator's Back," for instance, seems bent on producing a sort of other-worldly, almost spooky blues feel. The same vibe characterizes "Purple Haze". "blues for Oakton" lightens the mood somewhat, and the Bach piece is nice, but then we're back to the improvisational "Day1/Tune1" which is pretty much random jamming in minor keys, as is "Deep Blue," a couple tracks later. Maybe it is me, maybe my taste is changing as I get older, but Grisman, Bush et al still sound fresh, warm, & approachable - while this disk justs feel cold & distant. Still gets 3 stars on musicianship.