Event
Russ Barenberg & Bryan Sutton
Acoustic guitarist Russ Barenberg is known as one of the most melodic instrumentalists in contemporary acoustic music, and his compositions are among the finest the genre has to offer. He got his start in 1970 with the groundbreaking bluegrass band Country Cooking and since then has been a member of a variety of highly influential groups, most notably his collaboration from 1989 to 2001 in a trio with dobro master Jerry Douglas and bassist Edgar Meyer.
His work, including his most recent collection, "When at Last," reflects an ever-deepening musicality with continuing dedication to vibrant, roots-based melodies and ensemble interplay. "Little Monk," the opening track from "When at Last", was nominated for the 2008 GRAMMY for Best Country Instrumental Performance.
Along with Douglas, he worked for several years accompanying Irish singer, Maura O'Connell, and in 1988 recorded his third solo album, "Moving Pictures", another beautiful collection of original instrumentals featuring Douglas, Meyer, banjoist Bela Fleck, and fiddlers Mark O'Connor and Stuart Duncan, among others. The previously mentioned trio with Douglas and Meyer, active throughout the 1990s, was a highly original ensemble that further reshaped the direction of acoustic music. Their popular 1993 recording, "Skip, Hop & Wobble," has been extremely influential with the a new generation of acoustic instrumentalists.
Barenberg has played on the soundtracks for several Ken Burns' films, including "The Civil War," "The Brooklyn Bridge," "The Shakers" and "Huey Long." In 1996 Barenberg worked with Douglas, fiddler Darol Anger and Los Angeles-based music producer Snuffy Walden to create the soundtrack for "Homecoming", a film starring Anne Bancroft.
Bryan Sutton is one of the most high-profile acoustic guitarists in bluegrass and country music these days, a first-call Nashville session player whose jaw-dropping technique, deep background in tradition, and fluency in multiple styles have landed him important gigs with Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Earl Scruggs, the Dixie Chicks, Bela Fleck, and others.
In Sutton's most recent album, "Not Too Far From The Tree", is a series of duets with guitar masters, including Doc Watson, Tony Rice, and Norman Blake. "I really like the musical conversation that goes on in a duet," he explains. "I like the reactions, and with this record I tried to capture as much of those nuances as possible. In a duo, you have the freedom to go as far as each person is willing to go. You have this great possibility to get one sound, one voice. The guitar has such a wide tonal range that in a good duet situation you dont miss anything, you dont want for bass or the mandolin chop or anything."
Sutton not only wanted to showcase his heroes, but also demonstrate just how his own playing as evolved under their influence. However, far from aping his partners, he simply listens and reacts, allowing the music to grow naturally. "Theres a conscious level when Im playing with these guys, where Ill be inspired to do something just because I hear it," he says. "Im a real reactionary player. When I hear something, whether it be a cool lick from Norman or some weird chord voicing that David Grier is doing, its going to inspire me to go somewhere spontaneously. Its all improv on that level.
Enjoy a special pairing of these two acoustic guitar masters on October 17 as part of Petaluma Church Concerts.
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LocationFirst Church of Christ Scientist
522 B St. (corner of B and 6th)
Petaluma, CA 94952
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
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