CD Review: EDDIE ADCOCK – Vintage Banjo Jam

EDDIE ADCOCK
Vintage Banjo Jam
Los Dedos – Downtown Boogie – Theme from
‘Exodus’ – Country Gentleman – Warm and Windy – Banjo Bop – Camptown
Races – Meet Mister Callaghan – Darling Nellie Bly – Eddie To The Rescue
– The Waltz You Saved For Me – Blowing Bubbles – Virginia Bluebell
 
Eddie Adcock is an old friend of mine.  Not necessarily
‘old’ but young at heart, but ‘old’ meaning a long time friend.  We go
back quite a few years, and Eddie Adcock, at least in my mind is still
one of the best 5-string banjo players in the field.  He was already
that when he played with the Country Gentlemen in Washington D.C.  This
particular re-release goes back a few years too.  It was recorded in
1963, and is  being re-released on Patuxent Music, which has enough
brains and knowledge of the business to know and realize this particular
recording session is an absolute necessity in the library of anyone who
appreciates 5-string banjo playing.  When this amazing recording was
made, Eddie was the banjo genius behind the Country Gentlemen.  It’s
wasn’t the Gentlemen that backed him on this amazing recording.  The
guitarist is none other than Pete Kuykendall who went on to create,
establish, and publish ‘Bluegrass Unlimited’ magazine.  He was also the
recording studio and the engineer on this reproduction.  On the bass is
Tom Gray, and Barry Worrell is on drums.  Obviously this wasn’t intended
to be a strictly ‘bluegrass’ project.  In 1963, Eddie Adcock was trying
to impress Chet Atkins in Nashville.  Chet was impressed, that’s for
sure, but he didn’t know what to do with this kind of project.  Patuxent
Records certainly know what to do with this exceptional project done
way way before it’s time. That’s the way it is with exceptional music. 
The creative music maker functions before he gets to where he’s going. 
This is the most tasteful recording I’ve ever heard a banjo player place
before the public.  “Warm And Windy” is an exciting adventure into the
sound of the banjo in totally unexplored regions of music.  I believe
Eddie Adcock is the only banjo player still living that could make that
trek and make it not only acceptable but totally unique.  And then to
take us back in time, far back in time and perform a note-perfect
version of ‘Camptown Races,’ including his own signature abilities. You
don’t hear that much in today’s music, even in really good bluegrass
music.  Eddie kept his banjo going on several ‘old-time’ songs, also
done just as well, but in such a way to bring new life to old songs, and
do it so incredibly likable.  I dare any banjo enthusiast to listen to
the note-perfect song “Eddie To The Rescue” and find any slip.  It
doesn’t exist.   And please don’t say a beautiful waltz can’t be played
on the banjo!  Eddie Adcock does exactly that on “The Waltz You Saved
For Me” including the additional minor chords that make it sound so
beautiful.  I can’t say it any better than the promo folks who also
listen to this kind of music….”Astonishingly, in his long and historic
career this is the only true solo banjo album that Eddie has yet made, a
particularly extraordinary fact given his pervading musical influence
embedded firmly in the bluegrass genre.  Yet as he continues to choose
to ignore musical boundaries, still his inspiration of others has only
grown as his own music continues to evolve.”  Off this magnificent CD
goes to the Rural Roots Music Commission who will undoubtedly scratch
their heads, much like Chet Atkins, and then do the unheard of…..give
him a CD of the Year Award.  I have my fingers crossed.
RECORD REVIEW BY BOB EVERHART, Pres. of National Traditional Country Music Assn.   www.music-savers.com for Country Music News International

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