JOHN REISCHMAN and THE JAYBIRDS
On A Winter’s Night
Corvus 023

www.johnreischman.com
 

Premier mandolinist, former Good Old Person, producer and stellar bandleader, John Reischman epitomizes the “true-vine” spirit of bluegrass music in the 21st century. With his equally visionary Jaybirds ensemble, Reischman proffers an alluring romp through the frosty backwoods of American roots music that proves “inspired in part by the classic American Folk Songs For Christmas by composer Ruth Crawford Seeger (stepmom to Pete).” (The rest of the Jaybirds personnel are the esteemed Canadian roots musician Trisha Gagnon on bass; acoustic guitarist and album co-producer Jim Nunnaly, ace fiddler Greg Spatz and adroit banjo picker Nick Hornbuckle.) The project also gives Reischman a chance to showcase the various talents of his Jaybirds quartet by breaking them up into small groups for each track, thereby giving each member an opportunity to savor the spotlight. Nunnaly takes the vocal on Doc Watson’s wintry classic “A Roving On A Winter’s Night.” Spatz and Hornbuckle team up on one of this seasonal EP’s captivating, evocative instrumentals “Breaking Up Christmas.” Other highlights include Gagnon’s stirring vocal on the old spiritual “I Heard From Heaven Today,” and a pair of cuts that feature the entire band – a bustling bluegrass version of the classic “Oh, Mary Where Is Your Baby” and on the album closer “Shine Like A Star In The Morning,” with Reischman’s clear, bracing mandolin work, virtuosic without ever appearing ostentatious, leading the way. This is music that rings out like a beacon.

— Gary Von Tersch