Help with bluegrass music...

The Kentucky Colonels with Roland and Clarence White.

I am always looking for the SUGAR HILL label-- lp's--most seem to be superb recordings. All the Peter Rowan lp's are very good and the Ricky Scaggs/Tony Rice duo lp is outstanding as far as music and is superbly recorded. The Kenny Baker album "Plays Bill Monroe" is one of the best instrumental albums and keeps getting better over the years. My personal policy is to avoid ANY recording that strays too far from the traditional elements of the genre-most notably electric bass and drums- those are big red flags for my taste. There are several newer cd's of a traditional quartet with Peter Rowan and Tony Rice that retain the tradition and offer a more contemporary flavor. I really don't make a concerted effort to keep up with the current Bluegrass stuff,but have always loved that sound and when it is nicely recorded that is a plus. If you want to go a little bit farther afield try the Steve Earle Blugerass album with Del McCoury. The documentary "The high lonesome sound" is essential viewing if only for Roscoe Holcomb. Of course-Bill Monroe-the father figure of Bluegrass-it seems everyone went through his band before they started their own. There really is a wealth of great music in this Genre,not to mention the old timey string bands of the 30's and the Western Swing of the 40's,but those are other stories to be told and great music to hear.Enjoy!

Don't forget Doc Watson for amazing flat picking. Get "Down South" (Rykodisc) for sure. I now live in Texas and really miss my North Carolina mountain music. If you can stand the crowds you should go to Merle Fest in NC and see for yourself what you like.
Mentioned earlier, Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band's "The Mountain" is really killer performance-wise, and well recorded. "Skip, Hop and Wobble" (Rounder I believe) by Jerry Douglas et all is amazing too. All acoustic. New Grass Revival is essential listening--with Sam Bush. You can enjoy the 70s version with Curtis Burch, or the slicker, 80s version with Bela Fleck, but it's all good. They have a remastered "greatest hits" that would be a good dip--2 CDs and pretty good SQ. Have fun--it's the real deal.

Get the video (on DVD) called "High and Lonesome". Excellent documentary about the beginnings of Bluegrass music. And the music...oh yeah!

My first exposure to Bluegrass was one Sunday night driving into the office (I was on call) and hearing a little girl with a band called Nickel Creek on the Prarie Home Companion radio show. I got on Amazon and purchased the LP that night. They have some fantastic recordings out including an SACD of the self named album. It is utterly fantastic.

I also love Alison Krauss + Union Station and Jerry Douglas.

If you like Bluegrass another genre to listen to is Hawaiian music as popularized several years ago by Iz. I know it sounds odd but lots of steel guitar and ukulele - great stuff.