Not Too Far from the Tree

Bryan Sutton

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 14, 2006)
• Original Release Date: March 14, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sugarhill
• ASIN: B000EJ9VB6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,014 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Like any working musician Bryan Sutton spends a lot of time traveling, but rarely has a road trip inspired such a fortuitous collection of musical encounters as his new recording Not Too Far from the Tree. Sutton first conceived of his new album of guitar duets "in a car on the way back from a trip," he says. "I was thinking about all these guys that had influenced me and that some of them weren't going to be around forever. I was thinking about records like Mark O'Connor's record of fiddle heroes and Jerry Douglas's record with all the Dobro players. And I got this idea of recording with these guys that were my heroes and also good buddies and advice-givers--people that have helped me in my career as a player. I felt like it was something I could do, and I felt honored to be in a position to be able to call everybody up and ask if they wanted to record."

Sutton is one of the most high-profile acoustic guitarists in bluegrass and country music these days, a first-call Nashville session player whose jaw-dropping technique, deep background in tradition, and fluency in multiple styles have landed him important gigs with Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Earl Scruggs, the Dixie Chicks, Bela Fleck, and others. But with his third solo recording he opted for a more low-key approach. Though it features some of the greatest, iconic bluegrass guitarists in history (Tony Rice, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, David Grier, among others), Sutton's new CD is a tribute to the kind of personal, spontaneous music making that often happens when guitarists get together to jam informally. "I wanted to get out of the studios, out of the sterility of standard record making," he says, "and capture as much of the music on my own as possible, so I decided to go to people's homes.

"I really like the musical conversation that goes on in a duet," he continues. "I like the reactions, and with this record I tried to capture as much of those nuances as possible. In a duo, you have the freedom to go as far as each person is willing to go. You have this great possibility to get one sound, one voice. The guitar has such a wide tonal range that in a good duet situation you don't miss anything, you don't want for bass or the mandolin chop or anything. You've got plenty of sustain and rhythm, all that stuff. When you get a trio, suddenly you have different roles to play. And in a band everybody has their specific part to do at any give moment. But with a duet you can constantly change dynamics and it's completely free."

Sutton not only wanted to showcase his heroes, but also demonstrate just how his own playing as evolved under their influence. However, far from aping his partners, he simply listens and reacts, allowing the music to grow naturally. "There's a conscious level when I'm playing with these guys, where I'll be inspired to do something just because I hear it," he says. "I'm a real reactionary player. When I hear something, whether it be a cool lick from Norman or some weird chord voicing that David Grier is doing, it's going to inspire me to go somewhere spontaneously. It's all improv on that level. But there's also subconscious stuff that happens, little intercommunication things, rhythmic things, the general pocket and groove. I feel like we were able to capture the sound of two guitars sounding like one big instrument, and a lot of that happens subconsciously, where you're really trying to dig into the groove of what's going on--trying to complement the duet partner, whoever that might be. So the influence isn't demonstrated by me playing the same licks that I'd just heard, but in nuances of feel and tone, very subtle kinds of things.

"I never was one to really study other players. I didn't transcribe Tony Rice solos as a kid, but I would try to listen to the feel of what Tony Rice did and try to capture the crux of the intent of what was going on. The whole Not Too Far from the Tree idea reflects that, in that I'm obviously of that, and I do my own thing, but I know where it came from, and I don't take any of it for granted."

Of the guitar heroes/friends he chose to record with, Sutton says:

Tony Rice: Like every other bluegrass player, Tony has influenced me so much with his rhythm playing. The essence of whatever Tony Rice is is something we all search for in bluegrass. Another thing about Tony is his open mind and willingness to learn stuff outside bluegrass...that has inspired me to search.

Norman Blake: Norman always reminds me of the beauty of simplicity, the beauty of allowing the tone of the guitar to speak. And I love the way he moves from chord to chord. Norman's got a certain pocket rhythmically that I love to try to get.

Doc Watson: Doc was my first real guitar hero, like he is for everybody. But I really value his opinions on things. He told Ricky Skaggs that he liked his singing because he could hear every word he sang, and that spoke to me on a lot of different levels about what's really important at the end of the day, musically. It's one thing to play music, but you've got to communicate to people in an accessible way.

Jerry Douglas: I count Jerry as one of the most influential musicians in my life, ever. His improv and what he does behind vocalists is always just perfect. When you hear something he's done on a track on someone's record, you feel like it couldn't get any better.

Earl Scruggs: Earl's guitar playing just anchors a lot of what I've always loved about bluegrass guitar--strong melodic playing that makes good sense.

Ricky Skaggs: The way Ricky played acoustic uitar on his country records just sounded to me like the way it ought to be done. As I've become a session player in Nashville playing on country records, I still adhere to all those concepts I picked up listening to him.

David Grier: The biggest influence David has on me is his ability to affect my interpretation of what's going on in the music. He's a great conversationalist with the guitar, and playing with him I discover things that I didn't know I could do.

George Shuffler: George has such a neat groove in his crosspicking. There's such a great rhythm to it, a lope. George has been a great friend, inspiration, and support, he's definitely influenced me in so many different ways outside of music.

Jerry Sutton: Dad is a real solid person, a very smart guy, but unassuming. Any ability I have to play rhythm guitar and create pockets and good feels for things stems from listening to him.

Jack Lawrence: When I was about 12 so, Jack put a lot of things in perspective for me of how flatpicking can sound--from the clarity and power he was able to get.

Russ Barenberg: Russ is such a solid player, and his soloing is so lyrical. He reminds me to keep a melodic idea strong in my solos. He's one of those great improvisers, like Jerry Douglas and Stuart Duncan, that always have a great melody in their solos.

Dan Crary: Dan's influenced me the most in conceptual kinds of stuff--in the realm of clarity and dynamics in flatpicking.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Straightforward melody lines & fiery improvisations....new feelings out of the older, more familiar tunes, March 18, 2006

By	J. Ross "a-music_fan" (Roseburg, OR USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Playing Time - 49:12 - 1. Forked Deer (w/Dan Crary), 2. Bully of the Town (w/Norman Blake), 3. The Nine Pound Hammer (w/George Shuffler), 4. Lonesome Fiddle Blues (w/Tony Rice), 5. Billy in the Lowground (w/Jerry Sutton), 6. Stoney Creek (w/Jack Lawrence), 7. The Old Spinning Wheel (w/David Grier), 8. Big Sciota (w/Russ Barenberg), 9. Whiskey Before Breakfast (w/Doc Watson), 10. Bonaparte's Retreat (w/Jerry Douglas), 11. Give Me the Roses (w/Earl Scurggs), 12. Carroll County Blues (w/Ricky Skaggs), 13. Dusty Miller (w/Tony Rice), 14. Ragtime Annie (w/David Grier)

Originally from North Carolina, Bryan Sutton began playing guitar at age eight, and his first professional job playing guitar came in 1992 with Karen Peck, a southern gospel artist. In 1993, Sutton moved to Nashville and joined a gospel group called Mid South. Between 1995 and 2004, he found himself working with Ricky Skaggs, Dolly Parton, Dixie Chicks, Hot Rize and Earl Scruggs. A multiple winner of the IBMA Guitar Player of the Year Award, Sutton has a number of key influences on the instrument. In late-2004, he got the idea to record duets with his musical heroes. With his 1940 Martin D-28 Herringbone, he set out with his digital recorder (an Alesis ADAT-XT-8) and some mics (Neumann K-54s and a U-87) to record duets with his friends in the comfort of their homes or a nearby studio. In the process, he tied in with his buddies Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Norman Blake, George Shuffler, Dan Crary, David Grier, Jack Lawrence, Earl Scruggs, Jerry Sutton, and Russ Barenberg. He acknowledges being able to get to all those on his list of influences but one, Mark O'Connor. Most of the featured tunes are considered hoedowns, and a waltz like "Give Me The Roses" provides nice contrast. A rag might have given some added diversity to the project. However, selections like "The Old Spinning Wheel" and "Carroll County Blues" do the trick.

"Not Too Far From The Tree" is a welcome presentation that defines flatpicked guitar, an art form of virtuoso technique and agility. Sutton and his partners prove a lot about the instrument. First, its incredible versatility provides the potential for a wide range of extraordinary and powerful sound. Second, the simplicity found in a stellar duo with a total of only 12 strings can also impart many complexities in mood and sentiment. However, it's this very simplicity found in straightforward melody lines and fiery improvisations that give this album its unique flair. This project makes a lot of musical sense, and the players successfully draw some new feelings out of the older, more familiar tunes. These tunes are still considered primarily as fiddle tunes, but Bryan Sutton, a leading player and purveyor of guitar, is staking a solid claim on them for his instrument. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a breathtaking overview of the flatpicker's art, May 17, 2006

By	twangmon (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews

Flatpicking nirvana! When Bryan Sutton -- whose rippling lines and fat tones are among the finest to emerge from a steel-string's soundhole -- decided to record a series of duets with those who helped shape his playing, he grabbed a portable recording rig and visited a bevy of the world's top pickers. The result is Not Too Far from the Tree -- an amazing collection of 6-string conversations, as well as a breathtaking overview of the flatpicker's art. Sutton's musical partners include both trailblazers and modern masters: crosspicking pioneer George Shuffler, Norman Blake, Dan Crary, bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs, Jack Lawrence, David Grier, flat-top sensei Doc Watson, Russ Barenberg, Ricky Skaggs, Dobro king Jerry Douglas, and Tony Rice. As an added bonus, Sutton turns in a beautiful piece with his first guitar teacher -- his father -- recorded in the living room where the young Sutton once practiced. In each duet, the guitars are recorded simply and naturally, allowing us to focus on each picker's unique style, and also dig the sonic differences between the various Martin, Taylor, Bourgeois, Gallagher, Gibson, and Huss & Dalton dreadnoughts (which are all detailed in the liner notes). Packed with red-hot versions of traditional tunes, Not Too Far from the Tree belongs in every flatpicker's collection, and is destined to become a classic.

5.0 out of 5 stars Hot Guitar Duets, January 11, 2007

By	Yeatsian "In Hugger Mugger" (Northridge, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Bryan Sutton flatpicks his way into acoustic guitar immortality with these 14 tracks, each with a different great partner.

Whether with Jerry Douglas, Dan Crary, Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, Russ Barenberg, or the other hot pickers on this CD, each track is "lightning in a bottle."

Bluegrass lovers, come, sate yourselves.