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Tony Furtado has gotten attention in the last couple of years from the jam band community for his eclectic folk-rock sound, drawing on blues, bluegrass and to a lesser extent, Celtic music. However, before dedicating himself to slide guitar and delving into that world, he was a bluegrass banjo prodigy. His first album, Swamped, was a fine album that showcased his extraordinary banjo skills in a progressive bluegrass setting. While that album had progressive leanings, though, it still fit very clearly within the bluegrass tradition. On his second album, the bluegrass roots still show, but Furtado steps further out into other genres. There is some Strength In Numbers-type instrumental work, a Brazilian-tinged piece, Celtic music, an Alison Krauss-sung ballad, and a few other styles. This album also marks the first appearance of two pieces that remain Furtado standards-- Waiting for Giteau, and St. John's Fire, which both also lend themselves to the type of jam-friendly folk rock he plays today. The guest list here is outstanding, and the names will be familiar to any fan of modern bluegrass: Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, David Grier, Mark Schatz, Adam Steffey, Krauss (obviously), Joe Craven, Rob Ickes, Mike Marshall, Todd Phillips, Scott Nygaard, and more. That guest list should really tell you everything you need to know, and the album has the feel of a 1990's progressive bluegrass album on Rounder, which is exactly what this is. This album is the start of Tony Furtado exploring the edges of bluegrass before leaving the genre altogether. It is a fine album that shows the beginning of a transition and the development of an interesting musician.

Not quite as good as his "Live Gypsy" album, but I can't seem to get it out of my car player. Amazing versatility.