New Grass Revival was a progressive bluegrass band founded in 1971 and composed of Sam Bush, Courtney Johnson, Ebo Walker, Curtis Burch, Butch Robins, Béla Fleck and Pat Flynn. They were active between 1971 and 1989, releasing more than twenty albums as well as six singles. Their highest-charting single is "Callin' Baton Rouge", which peaked at #37 on the U.S. country charts in 1989 and was a Top 5 country hit for Garth Brooks five years later.
Screw anything more. The lineup that I had seen in the day (3 times) was Bela Fleck, Banjo, Sam Bush Mandolin (a genius), John Cowan bass and lead vocals and Pat Flynn guitar. these guys were absolutely amazing. Fleck has done things with banjo that haven't been done (and it worked!) Sam Bush plays the mando like no one I have ever seen play before or since, Pat Flynn plays some really great Flat picking guitar and John Cowan...Bass...4 octave range.
They all sing and they were just amazing onstage. A quartet that was unbelievable. Just as they were really gonna make it big time, they split.
Watch the videos. You will see what I mean. What's a couple of minutes for an education in music? first two are instrumentals. Just see what they can do.
Seven by Seven
(watch how they hand the lick off to each other. Particularly the mandolin
Metric Lips
Can't Stop Now
every now and then, they went back to roots. In this video, Bela not only sings, but has no Banjo (very rare in both cases) 4 part harmony "gospel". Figured PJ would appreciate it.
Looking Past You
There's a lot of others, but now to the "Off Shoots" I will focus on the two best; Sam Bush and John Cowan.
Sam Bush
Sam Bush (b. April 13, 1952 in Bowling Green, Kentucky) is an American bluegrass mandolin player considered an originator of the Newgrass style.
Sam Bush & Pastor Mustard Jam; Sam Bush and Pastor Mustard of Aspen Public Radio have an impromptu jam. Recorded January 11th 2009
John Cowan (b. Aug 24, 1952 in Evansville, Indiana) is an American soul music and progressive bluegrass vocalist and bass guitar player. He was the lead vocalist and bass player for the New Grass Revival.
John Cowan "Carla's Got a New Tattoo"
Together....
John Cowan and Sam Bush - Dark As A Dungeon
Sam Bush and John Cowan -Sailin' Shoes (one of my favorite songs by them)
Talk About Suffering (acapella)- John Cowan
Sam Bush and John Cowan - Body And Soul
These guys were (and are) the best of the best...separate and together.
And to prove it...
14 years ago
This was really a great post! If you'd scroll backwards in my blog, you'd see the kitchen, you dweeb! Is your mouse broken???
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for linking to these videos. Really great to listen to with my morning cup of coffee. Bela Fleck is one of my favorites... but the four guys together are AMAZING. Shirley
ReplyDelete