Post by Doug on Dec 3, 2004 9:12:36 GMT -5
From Louisville Courier-Journal:
Jerry Douglas cannot make a dobro levitate. Not for very long, anyway. Other than that he can do anything with the instrument, and does. He's a bit of a freak, if you want to know the truth.
Douglas' impeccable musicianship, which has grown to embrace influences ranging from Uncle Josh Graves to Django Reinhardt, has been featured on more than 1,000 recordings. His unclassifiable solo albums push the dobro to its limits, while his work with Alison Krauss + Union Station has helped make that band the biggest in bluegrass.
Krauss performs at the Louisville Palace next week, giving dobro fetishists a chance to wallow. It's the best way to see Douglas because you can appreciate the way he works behind a singer and also revel in his nightly solo segment.
"It's the perfect situation for me," said the affable Douglas, an Ohio native who lives in Nashville. "I have time to do all of the solo work I want to, plus I'm a band guy. I like the way a band works, the feeling that we all have something to do with how a record comes out. We all have a piece of the music."
Krauss' new album, "Lonely Runs Both Ways," proves that this band works very well. It's a beautiful record that showcases the delicate interplay of Krauss, Douglas, Dan Tyminski, Barry Bales and Ron Block. It's a sound that people clearly believe in; the album sold 600,000 copies out of the gate.
"This is the dream gig ... because I get to back one of the great singers, two of them, really," Douglas said (Tyminski is the other). "I don't have to dumb anything down for these guys. I can throw anything at them."
While making "Lonely," Douglas squeezed in a few dozen guest appearances. Then he made a solo record and found time to pick up a National Heritage Fellowship — traditional music's highest honor. He spent the $20,000 award on a home studio so he could work even longer hours.
And now there's the tour, which is a modest 25 dates. Two of those are here for good reason: After recording a hugely successful live album and concert DVD at the Palace, the band loves Louisville.
"It's a natural place for us to play, to go out and try new ideas," Douglas said. "It's not like playing for a normal audience. People in Louisville get us and what we're doing."
Alison Krauss + Union Station, with Douglas, will perform Tuesday and Wednesday at the Louisville Palace, 7:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $42.75.
Jerry Douglas cannot make a dobro levitate. Not for very long, anyway. Other than that he can do anything with the instrument, and does. He's a bit of a freak, if you want to know the truth.
Douglas' impeccable musicianship, which has grown to embrace influences ranging from Uncle Josh Graves to Django Reinhardt, has been featured on more than 1,000 recordings. His unclassifiable solo albums push the dobro to its limits, while his work with Alison Krauss + Union Station has helped make that band the biggest in bluegrass.
Krauss performs at the Louisville Palace next week, giving dobro fetishists a chance to wallow. It's the best way to see Douglas because you can appreciate the way he works behind a singer and also revel in his nightly solo segment.
"It's the perfect situation for me," said the affable Douglas, an Ohio native who lives in Nashville. "I have time to do all of the solo work I want to, plus I'm a band guy. I like the way a band works, the feeling that we all have something to do with how a record comes out. We all have a piece of the music."
Krauss' new album, "Lonely Runs Both Ways," proves that this band works very well. It's a beautiful record that showcases the delicate interplay of Krauss, Douglas, Dan Tyminski, Barry Bales and Ron Block. It's a sound that people clearly believe in; the album sold 600,000 copies out of the gate.
"This is the dream gig ... because I get to back one of the great singers, two of them, really," Douglas said (Tyminski is the other). "I don't have to dumb anything down for these guys. I can throw anything at them."
While making "Lonely," Douglas squeezed in a few dozen guest appearances. Then he made a solo record and found time to pick up a National Heritage Fellowship — traditional music's highest honor. He spent the $20,000 award on a home studio so he could work even longer hours.
And now there's the tour, which is a modest 25 dates. Two of those are here for good reason: After recording a hugely successful live album and concert DVD at the Palace, the band loves Louisville.
"It's a natural place for us to play, to go out and try new ideas," Douglas said. "It's not like playing for a normal audience. People in Louisville get us and what we're doing."
Alison Krauss + Union Station, with Douglas, will perform Tuesday and Wednesday at the Louisville Palace, 7:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $42.75.