If you enjoyed Appalachian Journey and Mark O Connor's playing ... a must try is Mark O Connor's "Hot Swing Trio" ... available on SACD, as well. What Mark did for bluegrass on "Appalachian," he does for swing/jazz on this disc. Jane Monheit does a stunning version of "Misty." Wynston Marsalis guests, as well. If you wish to explore bluegrass some more ... try this website ... http://www.acousticdisc.com. The label is run by David Grisman and you can sample all their discs on-line (enter Acoustic Disc on-line). Two newer releases "Old & in the Gray" (similar to Grisman & Garcia's "Old & In the Way," but with a different lineup) and "Life of Sorrow" are nicely recorded and offer very enjoyable bluegrass/old timey music. Enjoy, Rich
"Appalachian Journey" SACD
Any listening to this work by Yo Yo Ma, Edgar Buchanon and Mark O'Connor? Guest vocals by James Taylor and Allison Krauss. A gorgeous blend of bluegrass and string trio style music. I have been listening to the 2 channel layer and it images like crazy. You can hear so far into it you can almost feel the rosin on the bows. Taylor's vocals on "Hard Times No More" are so emotive and heartfelt, it reminds me the song "The Suit" that he sings on Jerry Douglas' "Look Out For Hope". I have yet to listen to the CD layer to compare the two, but at $12.99, that's a lot of music, that's well done.