Live At The Ryman

Sometimes the best things happen when you're not paying attention. Such is the case with Live at the Ryman, the spectacular new live album from Marty Stuart. Booked into country music's mother church for a special concert, Stuart summoned his skillet-hot band, the Fabulous Superlatives (guitarist Kenny Vaughan, bassist Brian Glenn and drummer Harry Stinson) for what was sure to be one hell of a gig. But it was Stuart's decision to introduce dobro legend 'Uncle' Josh Graves, Charlie Cushman on banjo and Stuart Duncan on fiddle into the mix that sent this night into the country/bluegrass stratosphere. Universal. 2006. Acoustic interplay generates an electric charge as guest musicians join Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives for a concert that puts the pedal to the metal of bluegrass tradition. The hometown crowd at Nashville's Mother Church of Country Music (the same stage on which a 13-year-old Stuart made his Ryman debut accompanying Lester Flatt on the mandolin) spurs the band to peak intensity. With stellar support from fiddler Stuart Duncan and banjoist Charlie Cushman--and a guest appearance by master Dobroist Josh Graves--Stuart and band explore and extend the dynamics of bluegrass, from familiar fare such as "Orange Blossom Special" and "The Great Speckled Bird" through the harmony-laden balladry of "Homesick" and the honky-tonk heartbreak of "The Whiskey Ain't Workin' Anymore" and "Hillbilly Rock," with the latter providing the closing kick to a particularly lively evening. --Don McLeese

Browse Our Catalog.

View More In Bluegrass.