David Grier
I’ve Got The House To MyselfDreadnought 0201
Playing time: 46:24
He may not carry quite the same high profile, flashy reputation as a Tony Rice, or the cult following of a Norman Blake, but over the past decade and more David Grier has continued to establish his credentials as one of the premier acoustic guitarists of the times. Certainly, he’s garnered a following through some more progressive work, such as his recent collaboration with mandolinist Matt Flinner and bassist Todd Phillips, but longtime observers of the bluegrass scene are also familiar with his work in years past with traditionalists like. And, of course, his bluegrass pedigree derives in no small measure from the fact that his father, Lamar Grier was among the more significant names in the long list of men who played banjo for Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys.
The title of this solo- literally- album suggests that these are tunes that Grier plays for his own amusement. There are a couple of tunes where a second guitar can be heard, but since no other musicians are credited, the assumption is that Grier is overdubbing himself on these tracks. The focus, though, is squarely on Grier’s direct, clear picking style that, while allowing some latitude for ornamentation and straying from the melody, still allows each and every note to be heard and savored- the kind of picking that says, “I can play faster, but I don’t have to.” The title track and one other are Grier originals, but the remaining eleven are, but one, traditional tunes that Grier puts a distinctive stamp on. The one other non-trad tune, though, may be the album’s most arresting track, and acoustic rendition of “Evening Prayer Blues”, written and made famous by the early, African American Opry star Deford Bailey. As this disc shows, David Grier devotes a lot of thought and feeling to the music he plays.
- JL, Sing Out, Summer 2003