Geoff Union - Cold As Steel
“I admire an artist who has the gumption to record an entire CD of original material. Austin, Texas singer/songwriter and guitarist Geoff Union sent me his new solo CD ‘Cold As Steel,’ and my first impression was that instrumentally, this music was some of the best “front porch pickin’” I’d heard in a while. Geoff used to be a member of Austin’s hot “Two High String Band,”
When the young pickers in Austin's MilkDrive use the phrase "jazzgrass," they mean it! These are players that came out of the bluegrass tradition looking for more space to move, more places to maneuver, more room to breathe.
Their new album,Waves, is as informed by pop songwriting and jazz breaks as it is by Bill Monroe, so don't let the presence of all acoustic instruments and a hefty slice of banjo, guitar, fiddle, and mandolin-driven Americana fool you. While they're not the first group to take bluegrass into chamber ensembles and jazz clubs, they are playing it the hardest, never losing sight of how much fun the music should be!
CMT News alerts us to some interesting Bluegrass that will be happening at the South By South West festival this week.
Click Photos to Hear Music Samples
In an article by Craig Shelburne, 10 Lone-Star artists are showcasing and Shelburne notes that four of the ten are bluegrass acts.
The Carper Family are quite intriguing, although its members aren't actually related. These three gals mix old country, old-time, bluegrass and swing tunes into their original catalog. Their harmonious blend recalls a simpler time, yet one of their numbers is titled "Who R U Textin 2nite." This particular collaboration has blended stunning three part harmonies into the finest old country, old-time, bluegrass, and swing tunes. Get dialed into their sound on Saturday at 11 p.m. at Stephen F's.
