Various Artist – Epilogue: a Tribute to John Duffey (2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

John Duffey’s influence on bluegrass cannot be overstated. His contributions to legendary bands The Country Gentlemen and The Seldom Scene helped transform the genre from a regional Appalachian music to a sophisticated, urban sound, resulting in a legion of new fans the world over. On Epilogue, the bluegrass music community comes together to create a marvelously fitting tribute to “the father of modern bluegrass.” Sam Bush, John Cowan, Bela Fleck, Bruce Molsky, Tim O’Brien, Don Rigsby, and so many more it’s a rare and special all-star cast. Their eagerness and passion to record the album attest to how profoundly Duffey impacted them and countless other musicians today.

It’s already been over twenty years since John Duffey, one of the best bluegrass and folk musicians, passed away. Having become an icon and a source of inspiration for many artists, the album Epilogue: A Tribute to John Duffey was a long awaited tribute. The lone tenor with his unique and innovative mandolin technique successfully managed to make bluegrass more popular and approachable. A founding member of the bands The Country Gentlemen and The Seldom Scene, he won over many hearts with his musical style and pulled off a true artistic transmission. Released on the label Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the album features a myriad of talents to give a second life to John Duffey and the bluegrass he loved so. Lou Reid and Randy Waller start it off with Sad and Lonesome Day, enthusiastically accompanied by the banjo and guitar. The whole piece is just one surprise after another, with contributions from the likes of Amanda Smith, Jonathan Edwards, Dudley Connell, and Tim O’Brien. It breathes the fragrances of America, with traditional country music tuned to more contemporary voices in great classics like If I Were a Carpenter or the unrecognizable Girl from the North Country, interpreted by Steve Gulley. The languid and melancholic ballad of Cash and Dylan has morphed under the sway of the banjo and mandolin as Bruce Molsky plays around on Chim-Chim-Cher-Ee. Then the old friends close out this tribute. John Starling, a former member of Seldom Scene, is mesmerizing when he tells the story of Mary with his strings and accompanied by a choir on the ballad Bringing Mary Home. An album that ends with Akira Otsuka’s mandolin solo that brings a reverent hearing for a perfect homage to John Duffey. – Clara Bismuth

Tracklist:
1. Randy Waller – Sad and Lonesome Day (02:35)
2. Amanda Smith – If That’s the Way You Feel (03:20)
3. Jonathan Edwards – If I Were a Carpenter (02:44)
4. Dudley Connell – Lonesome River (02:56)
5. Sam Bush – Sunrise (03:22)
6. James King – Going to the Races (02:00)
7. John Cowan – Some Old Day (02:43)
8. Steve Gulley – Girl from the North Country (03:31)
9. Dudley Connell – He Was a Friend of Mine (03:09)
10. Tim O’Brien – Poor Ellen Smith (02:23)
11. Fred Travers – Reason for Being (03:16)
12. Don Rigsby – Ain’t Gonna Work Tomorrow (02:41)
13. Bruce Molsky – Chim-Chim-Cher-Ee (01:27)
14. Ronnie Bowman – Cold Wind a Blowin’ (02:16)
15. John Duffey Tribute All-Stars – Christmas Time Back Home (03:13)
16. John Starling – Bringing Mary Home (03:49)
17. Akira Otsuka – First Tear (01:21)