Sat, 19 July 2003
Alison Krauss on Soundstage (and Patty Loveless)

Today (7-19-03) I watched PBS Soundstage with Alison Krauss and Union Station. I hope you did too. Alison's voice is angelic and effortless but she's just one of the talents in the band. I recall hearing or reading that talent goes to Nashville. I agree.

As great as Alison and the Union Station musicians are, Jerry Douglas on dobro is on the next level. Alison introduces him as the greatest dobro player that ever lived but I suspect he'd be among the greatest at whatever instrument he'd chosen. I'm most impressed with his comping skills. Playing behind the vocals and other instruments, his voicings stand out while making the other instruments sounds better. That's the trick. He just does it better that most anybody.

I have to mention that they played "Man of Constant Sorrow." For me it's one of the ultimate country and country blues songs. My family's interest in country music varies but all five of them will stop when they hear this tune. It's beyond genre. One of the most interesting versions I've heard was by Patty Loveless on Austin City Limits. She also did "Shady Grove (Pretty Little Miss)" another classic. But "Pretty Polly," a grim murder ballad, that took my breath away.