David Grisman Quintet - 30 and counting

Folk and bluegrass legend David Grisman is back with his quintet for an upbeat, jazzy CD titled Dawg's Groove. Since forming 30 years ago, the David Grisman Quintet has featured such famous names as Vassar Clements, Bela Fleck, Jerry Garcia, Stephane Grappelli, Mark O'Conner, and Earl Scruggs. His fellow musicians on this CD are no less accomplished, and together they've blended Latin, bluegrass and jazz sounds for a lovely acoustic album. Grisman's 1996 collaboration with Jerry Garcia - Shady Grove - was my introduction to his amazing mandolin playing, but that was definitely a bluegrass album, while this new one is for jazz fans. Serving suggestion: dinner for two, candles on the table, a nice bottle of wine and Dawg's Groove playing on the stereo.