Grier Phillips & Flinner - Phillips Grier & Flinner - [CD]

Great musicians are able to blend a range of styles in order to produce a single result. Yet it's even more impressive when these influences have been so completely assimilated by the players that they cannot be deconstructed. Such is the case with this virtuoso acoustic trio, which has produced an album that doesn't blur so much as annihilate the lines between Celtic, bluegrass, and jazz; the blend is innate. Guitarist David Grier, mandolinist Matt Flinner, and bassist Todd Phillips each contribute three original tunes to the proceedings, although each song becomes a spontaneous and even dialogue. Flinner's robust "Paint It Shut" sounds like both an age-old Erse reel and a bold "newgrass" composition. On Phillips's introspective "Said and Done," Grier engages in Wes Montgomery-style octaves before resolving his ideas with deep bends. Grier's bright and gentle "Car on Fire" becomes a gritty workout. "Dozing in the Sun Through the Window," another Phillips tune, has a breezy, tropical, Latin-jazz feel. Though the album occasionally loses momentum, it's challenging material that makes for equally challenging listening--challenging but mostly rewarding. --Marc GreilsamerProduct DescriptionAcoustic master Todd Philips (bass), David Grier (guitar) and Matt Flinner (mandolin) come together for the acoustic instrumental event of the year. The trio composed and recorded nine tracsk the weave strands of bluegrass and jazz into a striking acoustic tapestry. Produced by two time Grammy award winner Phillips, this album is a must for fans of bluegrass and acoustic music.