This recording is a compilation of tapes made from approximately 1970 through 1973. They are basically jam session recordings made in various locations - including Norman Blake's kitchen. Most of the numbers include Norman Blake on guitar, or occasionally on mandolin. He even plays dobro on "Steel Guitar Rag." Tut Taylor, the famed "Flatpickin' Dobro Man", plays dobro on many cuts, but also shows himself to be a fine mandolin picker on many others.

Other musicians on the recordings include John Hartford on low banjo, Curtis Burch on dobro, Vassar Clements on fiddle, Butch Robins on guitar or bass, Sam Bush on bass, and lots of unknown pickers on a variety of instruments, including guitar, mandolin, mandola, and mandocello. Musicians that are supposedly included, but not credited on any specific cut include Charlie Collins, Jim Johnson, Randy Wood, Radio John, and Grant Boatwright.

There are lots of traditional tunes, and quite a few Tut Taylor compositions. Most are instrumentals, though Norman sings "Little Bessie" and "The Electric Telephone," and John Hartford sings "Banks of the Ohio."

Considering that these are not studio recordings, they sound mighty good. The sound quality is generally fine, and the musicianship is not of the raggedy kind that I see at most jam sessions that I'm involved in. (No surprise, considering who's playing.) There are also some great moments here of the kind that appear when talented pickers are feeling a bit less constrained than they might when recording an album in the studio.

Tut is great on the flatpicked dobro. The use of a flatpick requires a different style of attack than we normally hear from finger-picked dobros. It's almost like a totally new instrument - more direct and dynamic, which to my mind makes it fit better with the other bluegrass instruments than the traditional dobro.

Norman also shines here. In particular, he absolutely burns up the strings on "Arkansas Traveler." I don't think I've ever heard it that fast and that clean. (This break is tabbed out on page 9 of this issue.)

In the liner notes, Tut says, "This is Volume One of the Tut Taylor Archival Releases. There will be others to follow." I can hardly wait.

The Tunes:

• Running Wild
• Goodlettsville Express
• Midnite at Beanblossom
• Train Wreck
• Little Bessie
• Lost Indians
• Arkansas Traveler
• Steel Guitar Rag
• Banks of the Ohio
• Liberty
• Westgate
• Fire in the Resonator
• Rosinea
• Weave and Way
• Break-out
• In the Old City
• The Electric Telephone
• Bad Blake's Blues
• Cakewalk
• Ode to Lloyd
• Pickin Flat
• Ragweed
• Fire on the Mountain
• Memories

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