The Legacy Of Tommy Jarrell, Vol. 1: Sail Away Ladies

When talking about old-time music, Tommy Jarrell is the real McCoy. Whereas many "old-time" musicians, especially those who had or sought recording careers, updated, polished, and modernized the traditional styles of the mid-Atlantic mountain regions, Jarrell steadfastly refused to alter the fiddle techniques taught to him by his father Ben and other local legends of the Virginia-Carolina border. Thus Jarrell's fiddling has a raw and abrasive sound, although his technique is anything but--it is refined and complex, often mixing in plucked accents with his advanced bowing technique. Like the style of playing, the repertoire mostly dates back to the mid-19th century. Although the 15 songs here are fiddle solos, Jarrell accompanies himself with delightfully offhanded singing and introduces many of the songs with facts about their histories and the tunings he uses. This fascinating record serves as an enjoyable listen as well as a history lesson and an instrumental instruction course. --Marc Greilsamer