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Back in the 1960s and ’70s, several amazing acoustic flattop steel string guitar players burst like a clap of thunder on the folk and bluegrass scenes. Between the fiddle tune and rockabilly lightning of Doc Watson and the jazzy pyrotechnics of Tony Rice was—and is—the versatile folk-country style of Dan Crary.
Crary gathered a national following as early as 1968 in the Bluegrass Alliance as a solo artist, and continued with such outstanding groups as Byron Berline & Sundance and California. He just seems to get better and more versatile as the years go by. His latest ensemble Dan Crary & Thunderation delivers on this new CD a near-perfect storm of material and performance.
The eye of Thunderation’s storm is Crary, seasoned bassist Steve Spurgin (a long-time Crary collaborator), and impressive young mandolinist Martin Stevens. They are joined in the studio by a high-pleasure front of sidemen. Especially exciting are the contributions of mandolin players John Reischman of the Jaybirds, who has been on notable past Tony Rice recordings, and acoustic jazz wizard Don Stiernberg. Hearing Crary and Stiernberg trade licks on “Deep River Blues” is just a delight. The material ranges from folk (the traditional “Sail Away Ladies” to Bob Dylan’s “Girl From The North Country”) to contemporary country (Gillian Welch and Dave Rawling’s “One More Dollar”). Crary’s lead vocals remind us that along with being a giant flatpicker, he’s also a formidable singer. Bassist Spurgin proves himself a fine singer-songwriter with his originals “Muley Was A Railroad Man” and “Tumbleweed Town.” As you’d expect, there are also sweeping instrumentals, including Crary’s own “Thunderation.”
Perfect Storm leaves a rainbow of enjoyment in its passing. The music of Dan Crary & Thunderation rains and reigns. (www.bluenightrecords.com) RDS - Bluegrass Unlimited
Back in the 1960s and ’70s, several amazing acoustic flattop steel string guitar players burst like a clap of thunder on the folk and bluegrass scenes. Between the fiddle tune and rockabilly lightning of Doc Watson and the jazzy pyrotechnics of Tony Rice was—and is—the versatile folk-country style of Dan Crary.
Crary gathered a national following as early as 1968 in the Bluegrass Alliance as a solo artist, and continued with such outstanding groups as Byron Berline & Sundance and California. He just seems to get better and more versatile as the years go by. His latest ensemble Dan Crary & Thunderation delivers on this new CD a near-perfect storm of material and performance.
The eye of Thunderation’s storm is Crary, seasoned bassist Steve Spurgin (a long-time Crary collaborator), and impressive young mandolinist Martin Stevens. They are joined in the studio by a high-pleasure front of sidemen. Especially exciting are the contributions of mandolin players John Reischman of the Jaybirds, who has been on notable past Tony Rice recordings, and acoustic jazz wizard Don Stiernberg. Hearing Crary and Stiernberg trade licks on “Deep River Blues” is just a delight. The material ranges from folk (the traditional “Sail Away Ladies” to Bob Dylan’s “Girl From The North Country”) to contemporary country (Gillian Welch and Dave Rawling’s “One More Dollar”). Crary’s lead vocals remind us that along with being a giant flatpicker, he’s also a formidable singer. Bassist Spurgin proves himself a fine singer-songwriter with his originals “Muley Was A Railroad Man” and “Tumbleweed Town.” As you’d expect, there are also sweeping instrumentals, including Crary’s own “Thunderation.”
Perfect Storm leaves a rainbow of enjoyment in its passing. The music of Dan Crary & Thunderation rains and reigns. (www.bluenightrecords.com) RDS - Bluegrass Unlimited
Discography
Dan Crary & Thunderation "Perfect Storm" - Blue Night Records www.bluenightrecords.com
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Bio
DAN CRARY is the musical legend, master of the guitar, a founder and pioneer of flatpicking, and a stylist with an international reputation for innovation, taste, and brilliance. His performance style blends traditional material from a variety of American sources and continues to blaze exciting new territory in his recordings and personal appearances today. Dan is a veteran of tours in more than thirty countries as he connects musically and personally with fans throughout the world. If creativity, quality, and longevity are hallmarks of artistic achievement, then Dan Crary must be recognized as one of the greatest traditional artists of our day.
STEVE SPURGIN is a native son of the Lone Star State whose song writing, recording, and performing have spanned the globe and earned him wide acclaim and a multitude of fans. As a former Nashville staff writer penning songs for the publishing companies of Gene Watson and Reba McEntire, Steve has several major country music hits to his credit and has received awards from BMI and IBMA, as well as being a “New Folk” winner at the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival. His “performed with” resume’ includes, among others, the super group California, Byron Berline and Sundance, Mason Williams, Freddy Fender, and The Limelighters.
MARTIN STEVENS already packs a musical wallop. He has a decade of experience and a substantial reputation in the Pacific northwest. He is destined to become a force to be reckoned with in American roots music.
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