Customer Reviews

Up in the Woods

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John Reischman has always been known for his beautiful, clear toned mandolin picking. Previous recordings have always featured a little bit of jazz, some latin, and also some bluegrass or old time style picking. Well, this recording is concentrated 100% on bluegrass/old time style. It's a winner! These instrumental pieces are Monroe inspired, but they also display John's own creative ability and melodic sense. Whether its a blues, a waltz, or a good old fashioned breakdown fiddle-style tune, every song on this recording fits in solidly with the bluegrass/OT mandolin tradition. I think that fans of modern acoustic music and traditionalists will both find much to like about this cd.

The songwriting and instrumental skills of John Reischman really shine when he collaborates with other top-notch musicians on the all-original project, "Up In The Woods." Nearly 40 minutes of a beautiful musical virtuostic tapestry are presented with Todd Phillips (bass), Gabe Witcher (fiddle), Jim Nunally (Guitar), Dennis Caplinger (banjo, fiddle), Scott Nygaard (guitar), Nick Hornbuckle (banjo), Rob Ickes (dobro), Kathy Kallick (guitar), and John Miller (guitar). If you like tone, clarity and dynamics in your instrumental music, then this album is for you. Reischman clearly draws his inspiration from such mandolinists as Bill Monroe, Sam Bush, Frank Wakefield, David Grisman, Jethro Burns and Andy Statman. While he is a master of many styles, Reischman clearly emphasizes the bluegrass and old-time feeling on "Up In The Woods." This highly-recommended album is one that you can listen to over and over without ever tiring of it. While each tune has its own story, I was particularly impressed with the overall feeling that I was left with when the last few measures of track 12 "Greenwood" came to an end. I just felt like spinning the entire album again....and again...and again.
--by Joe Ross, moderator/reviewer for "Nwbluegrass"

john is simply the best!!! all of the songs on this cd are excellent.....a great addition to any bluegrass collection!!

John Reischman is such a great mandolinist and now we have proof that he is a great composer. I have listened to this CD over and over again and it is still fresh. Absolutely great music! Highly recommended.

This is an outstanding CD by one of the best mandolin pickers breathing. It is my favorite, getting played over and over as one nevers tires of the variety, skill and fine melodic content. The other musicians are highly skilled helping to make this a truly wonderful album, even if you aren't a bluegrass fan...my wife likes it (and she's not).