[vinyl_lady]

Sara Watkins (another third of Nickel Creek) solo album is also quite good.  And also picked up an album called City of Refuge by Abigail Washburn which is quite good.

Sara is playing with The Decemberists on their current tour and is a terrific addition to band for their live show. Besides her violin/fiddle and guitar work, she sings the female parts Gillian Welch sang on The King Is Dead plus the female leads on songs from other albums. A very talented young lady!

[genjamon]

Bluegrass is another genre of music that has suffered from the "polluting of the waters".  People stretching into Jazz,Rock,electric banjo's,drums and other baggage that people have hauled along to make them think they are "creative". This music may be good and entertaining,but it is not Bluegrass.This is the last thing people want to hear,but this is the first thing that Bluegrass musicians and followers of the genre bring up.Certainly, things seem to have to "evolve" to stay "relevant" or commercial.So why not add some drums to Schubert's Trout quintet?
Bluegrass existed for almost 30 years as a pure form.Almost all the originators are dead so it is easy prey to stretch the definition.The progenitors thrived on instrumental virtuosity within a strict format,almost like Bebop did in Jazz.The vocal leads and harmonies were just as important and the canon of songs truly mirrored the lifestyle and values.The thrill of fast picked mandolin,guitar,banjo and stand up bass all blending together,arcing in and out of the vocals,and jumping out into the lead is a thing of great beauty to hear.It is among the treasures we can be proud of as Americans that we have produced something so unique that defines our character and creativity.The purest water will always be found at the source of the spring.

Along these lines I would suggest Robin Macy, and especially the Pastures of Plenty album from her Big Twang days. I found wikipedia a good summary of her work. I live in Kansas and have heard her in small venues several times. Might be hard to find her stuff recorded, as she's kept out of the big business side of music, but you can be assured it's PURE.

[rajacat]

Perhaps you may deign to give us a list of approved artists from which we may make recommendations then.

Perhaps all of the "approved artists" will be dead by the end of this decade and the musical form will be like an artifact in a museum. Unless Bluegrass can attract new, young performers who choose to evolve the form, it will become stagnate and die. This is the problem with the purists who disrespect young, creative musicians who are trying advance the genre. Really.... are there any young, talented musicians that would be satisfied with just parroting the old masters? I suspect many of the old masters are very happy that new young talent is taking an interest in the form and taking it new directions like they did in their youth.

-Roy