Post by julie on May 30, 2005 4:25:48 GMT -5
Concert review: Alison Krauss and Union Station
By FRANK ROBERTS, The Virginian-Pilot
© May 28, 2005
NORFOLK — Alison Krauss mixes bluegrass tunes with Looney Tunes, alternating between chirping prettily and doing laid-back stand-up comedy routines.
The latter was fun, but the former was the raison d’etre for filling the Ted Constant Convocation Center Friday.
Krauss offered two hours of Grammy grass which showed why she has been the recipient of 17 Grammy Awards, five Country Music Association Awards, and 10 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards - among others.
The Champaign lady - she comes from that Illinois city - is a very mellow presence on stage.
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Bluegrass enthusiasts who are used to the exciting jam sessions which are part of most such concerts would probably be restless at a Krauss gathering.
With tongue in cheek she explained her modus operandi: “There are a lot of sad songs. We wouldn’t want anybody leaving here feeling good.”
The Krauss enthusiasts definitely felt good - happy about the sad offerings, and happy to hear the multitudinous solos by the outstanding musicians who make up the group affectionately referred to as AKUS.
She is generous in offering them the time and space to do their thing, and introduced each one with humorous believe-it-or-not anecdotes about their lifestyle.
Jerry Douglas, dobro player supreme, was the recipient of the largest round of applause, possibly due in part to Krauss’s description of him as, “one of the greatest musicians of our time.”
All the habitués of Union Station were loudly lauded. The others are Barry Bales, Ron Block, and Dan Tyminski who supplied the 'singing voice’ for George Clooney in the movie, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
That film did for bluegrass what Philadelphia did for cream cheese, making the unknown quite palatable.
Those songs receiving the greatest rounds of applause were, “Back to Georgia,” and “When You Say Nothing At All.”
Krauss had a lot to say and she was always fun to listen to thanks to a sense of humor that is easygoing and ad-lib clever – and a little goofy when she resorts to a little girl voice.
It is her singing voice which has - excuse the cliché - stood the test of time. She has been on the scene since '87, with an extra surge of popularity coming her way in '98 when she was part of the musical scene in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
A highlight of the concert was the gospel offering from that film, “Down In the River to Pray.”
It was an encore presentation. You know the routine. The concert sort-of ends, there is a lot of applause, the band comes back, and they are at their best.
Friday, they were at their best all night.
Prior to the Krauss concert, there was an outdoor offering by The Heather Edwards Band, a good group led by a lady with a powerfully good voice.
home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=87112&ran=116409
By FRANK ROBERTS, The Virginian-Pilot
© May 28, 2005
NORFOLK — Alison Krauss mixes bluegrass tunes with Looney Tunes, alternating between chirping prettily and doing laid-back stand-up comedy routines.
The latter was fun, but the former was the raison d’etre for filling the Ted Constant Convocation Center Friday.
Krauss offered two hours of Grammy grass which showed why she has been the recipient of 17 Grammy Awards, five Country Music Association Awards, and 10 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards - among others.
The Champaign lady - she comes from that Illinois city - is a very mellow presence on stage.
Guestbook: Did you attend? Post your own review
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See the complete Pilot, exactly as in print
- View stories, photos and ads
- E-mail clippings
- Print copies
Log in or learn more
Email this Page
Print this Page
Get Email Newsletters
Bluegrass enthusiasts who are used to the exciting jam sessions which are part of most such concerts would probably be restless at a Krauss gathering.
With tongue in cheek she explained her modus operandi: “There are a lot of sad songs. We wouldn’t want anybody leaving here feeling good.”
The Krauss enthusiasts definitely felt good - happy about the sad offerings, and happy to hear the multitudinous solos by the outstanding musicians who make up the group affectionately referred to as AKUS.
She is generous in offering them the time and space to do their thing, and introduced each one with humorous believe-it-or-not anecdotes about their lifestyle.
Jerry Douglas, dobro player supreme, was the recipient of the largest round of applause, possibly due in part to Krauss’s description of him as, “one of the greatest musicians of our time.”
All the habitués of Union Station were loudly lauded. The others are Barry Bales, Ron Block, and Dan Tyminski who supplied the 'singing voice’ for George Clooney in the movie, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
That film did for bluegrass what Philadelphia did for cream cheese, making the unknown quite palatable.
Those songs receiving the greatest rounds of applause were, “Back to Georgia,” and “When You Say Nothing At All.”
Krauss had a lot to say and she was always fun to listen to thanks to a sense of humor that is easygoing and ad-lib clever – and a little goofy when she resorts to a little girl voice.
It is her singing voice which has - excuse the cliché - stood the test of time. She has been on the scene since '87, with an extra surge of popularity coming her way in '98 when she was part of the musical scene in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
A highlight of the concert was the gospel offering from that film, “Down In the River to Pray.”
It was an encore presentation. You know the routine. The concert sort-of ends, there is a lot of applause, the band comes back, and they are at their best.
Friday, they were at their best all night.
Prior to the Krauss concert, there was an outdoor offering by The Heather Edwards Band, a good group led by a lady with a powerfully good voice.
home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=87112&ran=116409