Bluegrass Now Magazine

by JF

 

David Grier

I’ve Got The House To Myself

Dreadnought 0201
Playing time: 46:24

 

Don’t let the traditional song titles like “Bill Cheatum,” and “Turkey In The Straw,” lull you into thinking this is just another album of traditional favorites. There’s a lot more to David Grier than that. You’ll find it out for yourselves when you hear this CD, very well done, performed completely on solo guitar.

One of Acoustic Guitar magazine’s “Artists of the Decade,” David shows just how good he is as an inventive musician, arranger, and composer.   By recording a CD completely on solo guitar David takes on a task laden with challenges and not only hurdles everyone, but he makes it extremely interesting. His technique is “staggering,” his music “. . . breaks free with unfettered explosive invention,” says Tim O’Brien, on each of the 13 tunes, including two original compositions and a haunting backwoods blues number written by Deford Bailey.
He takes divine liberties with old favorites like the opener, “Bill Cheatum,” creating some exquisite mood changes throughout, and, at the same time, introducing the listener to the wonderful things to come. There are times he blows you away with powerful single string runs, then comes back on the next cut with a gentle chordal or cross-picking movement that leaves you breathless in its beauty. “The Gal I Left Behind Me” features some gorgeous chord changes, while the two versions of “Sally Goodin” may sound alike, let the CD play out until it stops as you’re in for a fine surprise. Just don’t try to put any modifiers like bluegrass or country to David’s mastery of the guitar; he can do it all.

More than musicianship, this is a fine recording from the engineering side. There’s a real feel of a “live performance” here, complete with the occasional subtle effect as David moves his fingers across the strings. Close your eyes and you can almost picture him sitting on the living room couch in front of you, rocking back and forth as he spins his musical magic.  Just be prepared to be amazed. (JF) Bluegrass Now Magazine