Randogs Daily Pick 8/4/2014 Scotty Stoneman-Live In L. A.with The Kentucky Colonels-Rural Rhythm CD-Rhy 1017 Recorded live in 1965 at two different L A clubs(The Cobblestone& The Ash Grove), this album was designed to showcase the unique and incredible talents of the legendary and haunted Scott Stoneman, who in the liner notes for this album alone is referred to as The Jimi Hendrix and The Charlie Parker(in this instance by no less an authority than Jerry Garcia himself) of bluegrass fiddle. Scott was woefully under recorded during his short life, but can be heard on masterful recordings with Red Allen, his own family, The (legendary) Stonemans... and for a time, he was Charlie Prides preferred fiddler--but this album perhaps best represents the mesmerizing effect he could have on audiences and even the musicians accompanying him, who are often reduced to little more than spectators on this recording...and these guys are no slouches...this is The Kentucky Colonels of 1965, featuring fellow pioneering bluegrass genius Clarence White on guitar, Roland White at the top of his game on mandolin, Billy Ray Lathum on banjo, and Roger Bush on bass. Scott plays mind boggling fiddle on several of his showcase numbers here, including Oklahoma Stomp, taken, Richard Greene says in the notes, from Scotts single most discernible influence on fiddle, Dale Potters Fiddle Patch, plus fiddle warhorses Eighth Of January, Lee Highway Blues, DownYonder,Sally Goodin, Shuckin The Corn,Listen To The Mockingbird, Cherokee Waltz, Cacklin Hen, the venerable Orange Blossom Special, and four vocal numbers featuring Scotts strong and engaging vocals. Believe me, folks, if you havent heard this stuff, youre in for a shock and surprise, and a pleasant one indeed. Scotts influence live on today in the work of Richard Greene and current virtuosos of the fiddle like Michael Cleveland and Annie Staninec, who in answer to my question when I first met her, whos your favorite fiddler, said, Scott Stoneman. I well remember the shock of recognition Michael Doucet expressed on first being introduced to Scotts work. Ive seen various photos of Scott at live gigs, invariably drenched with sweat and looking exhausted, and Peter Rowan, Richard Greene, Jack Tottle and Garcia all attest to Scotts penchant for leaving it all on the stage in the excellent notes to this CD. In Nashville, there is a story still in circulation regarding Scott and Erwin Rouse hooking up on an epic version of OBS in an after hours Printers Alley musicians joint; maybe in a parallel universe it was recorded...but we do have this and a scattered few other recordings that attest to his genius. And his birthday is August 4,just like mine.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 16:46:08 +0000
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