byTom Druckenmiller
David Grier is a master guitarist and his solo talents are well represented on this recording captured live at The Linda, the performing Arts Studio of WAMC in Albany New York. Besides being a wonderful guitarist, David is a funny man and his song introductions (thankfully left on the recording) are just delightful.
The CD opens with an original "Have You Ever Been to England" which features David's Clarence White/Norman Blake inspired flat-picking. "High Atop Princess Cove," another Grier original, follows and couldn't be more dissimilar. It's a spare and lovely waltz highlighting David's ability to accompany the melody with internal chords and fragments.
David demonstrates expert cross picking on "The Old Spinning Wheel" and the medley of "America the Beautiful/Yesterday" is quite unexpected, allowing David to fully explore the chordal properties of his magnificent 1946 Martin D-28.
About half way through the CD David explains a bit about his musical inspiration. His father, Lamar Grier, played with Bill Monroe, and he reminisces about the days when Peter Rowan, Clarence and Roland White and others would come to the house to pick. Eventually he got a chance to join in. This is all in the form of an introduction to "Red Haired Boy." David's rendition is probably the finest I have heard of this overplayed chestnut.
David waxes on about Dolly Parton as he presents a medley of Bill Monroe classics, "Crossing the Cumberland/Old Ebenezer Scrooge" both played in Dolly's signature open tuning. The CD concludes with a funky version of "Bonaparte's Retreat" and a fiery take on Earl's "Randy Lynn Rag."
If you've ever wanted to have David Grier in your living room up close and personal in a solo setting, you'll just love Live At The Linda.--