  Georgia Slim’s Done Gone Albuquerque Turkey Festival Waltz Red Apple Rag Dragin’ the Bow Me and My Fiddle Joyce Cauthen Waltz Ducks on the Mill Pond Tune for Andy Greg Brooks Breakdown Fiddler’s Pastime Ragtime Annie Tall Timber Fiddler Daniel Greeson says this recording experience was “a blast.” He had a great group of musicians – Taylor Baker, Casey Driscoll, Brennen Ernst, Danny Knicely, Corrina Rose Logston and Marshall Wilborn to work with, and he selected tunes that suit his style and satisfy his continuing aspiration to reach high. On the title number, Done Gone, Greeson’s bow never seems to leave the strings despite the tune’s multiple switchbacks and hairpin curves. Fiddle standards from many genres demonstrate Greeson’s comfort zone as he easily takes hold on some festival favorites: Festival Waltz is smooth as velvet and includes Ernst on a neatly executed banjo break; on Red Apple Rag, Greeson has morphed an old time tune into hot bluegrass assisted by Baker, Ernst and Knicely on some ‘bout perfect solo work; on Ducks on the Mill Pond, Greeson develops an old-as-the-hills modal sound; on Draggin’ the Bow, with Knicely and Ernst soloing, Greeson takes a fast swing tune from twirling treble heights to scrubbing bass lows, and he easily moves Ragtime Annie from hoe-down to swing-town with some cool contributions from Baker, Ernst and Knicely. There are less-often-heard offerings, too, like David Grisman’s Albuquerque Turkey with Greeson in total control of the fiddling twists and Baker equally at home on mandolin. On Opry tribute, Me and My Fiddle by Benny Martin, Tom Mindte provides vintage vocals to Greeson’s smooth string work. Two selections by the legendary Frank Maloy give contrast—Joyce Cauthen Waltz is just plain sweet, while Greg Brooks Breakdown is a hopping dance tune with Baker and Ernst in the groove. Kenny Baker’s Tune for Andy has a happy hornpipe feel, with Greeson’s accurate time sense again underpinned by Ernst and Baker. Bill Monroe’s Fiddler’s Pastime is a melody that keeps you wondering where it’s going next, allowing Greeson’s fiddle to express its feelings—from lonesome wailing to hard driving. And just when you thought you’d heard everything a fiddle could do in Greeson’s expert hands, he finishes with Monroe’s Tall Timber at warp speed, triple fiddling with Driscoll and Logston to give some extra, unexpected layers. Daniel Greeson grew up with a reverence for the true bluegrass sound, and he’s made it his own, and then some. As you’ll hear on this project, he can do whatever he sets out to do with a fiddle and bow—and bring his friends along for the ride. --Barbara Bamberger Scott |
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 CD-254 Daniel Greeson 2014 album |
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