This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players.
Jerry Douglas sure can play the dobro. As the world's undisputed premier dobro player, Douglas has played with just about everybody. And, as would befit somebody with that kind of distinction, his playing is utterly virtuosic. The only question left, then, is what he wants to do with it. On Lookout for Hope, Douglas' fifth release for Sugar Hill, Douglas delivers up his usual newgrass, accompanied by some of the usual newgrass heavyweights, including Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, and Jeff Coffin. Maura O'Connell, James Taylor, and Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio turn in appearances as well. Douglas tries to do a lot. "Patrick Meets the Brickbats and "Cave Bop," for example, show off his lightning-fast playing. They are dazzling displays, but ultimately none too satisfying. Douglas does far better in milking the slow, bittersweet tones of the instrument, such as he does on a cover of Duane Allman's "Little Martha." The ten-minute title track (and album centerpiece), penned by jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, is most intriguing, combining Middle Eastern-sounding scales (such as on David Grisman's "Arabia" opus) with resonant and percussive acoustic sounds. As the master of the instrument, Douglas can do pretty much whatever he wants. Lookout for Hope does not find him resting on his laurels. Instead, he explores a variety of settings and moods, all bound together with the distinctive sound of his instrument. ~ Jesse Jarnow
Recorded at Dark Horse, Franklin, Tennessee; Mountainside, Nashville, Tennessee; Q Division, Somerville, Massachusetts; The Barn, Burlington, Vermont.
Personnel: Jerry Douglas (guitar, lap steel guitar, dobro, background vocals); James Taylor; Maura O'Connell (vocals); Bryan Sutton, Trey Anastasio (guitar); Sam Bush, Chris Thile (mandolin); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Jeff Coffin (saxophone); Viktor Krauss, Barry Bales (bass); Larry Atamanuik (drums, congas, percussion).
**Super Audio CD (SACD)** A Super Audio CD player is required to play this CD. This item will not play on standard CD players.
Dobro Douglas fully delivers the goods! Dobro Douglas dazzles us again with his new release, "Lookout For Hope," an evocative new acoustic offering that blends influences of bluegrass, jazz, classical and Celtic music. Full of excitement and energy, the music on this album is a real kick in the pants. The opening cut, an arrangement of Duane Allman's "Little Martha" features just dobro and bass (played by Barry Bales). "Patrick Meet the Brickbats" hits the bluegrass bull's eye dead on, with Douglas ably assisted by Bryan Sutton (guitar), Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Sam Bush (mandolin), Barry Bales (bass), and Larry Atamanuik (drums). If one is going to have drums on their acoustic project, Atamanuik is the one who can tastefully play them. A real treat are the vocals of Maura O'Connell on "Footsteps Fall." Following a too-short interlude of "Monkey Let The Hogs Out," Douglas launches into the 10-minute jazzy title cut with Sutton, Bush, Chris Thile on mandolin, Byron House on bass, and Trey Anastasio on guitar. This aqueous composition will give you hint as to how Jerry Douglas earned his nickname of "Flux." A little sax, electric guitar, and drums are flavorfully added to provide an artistic interpretation to the hard-driving Douglas original, "Cave Bop." These instruments really spice up this project and tickle the musical palate, if your tastebuds are open to such things. In keeping with the flow, "The Wild Rumpus" and "The Sinking Ship" provide up-tempo and moderate jazz offerings. Jerry takes a 2-minute freewheeling solo on "In The Sweet By and By," and the project closes with James Taylor singing "The Suit." If one were to view this Jerry Douglas CD as an entire package, it would be a prize one that fully delivers the goods. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now) Submitted by a reviewer (Roseburg, OR, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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