David Grisman's Acoustic Christmas

I do not miss a David Grisman album. He is one of the country's greatest acoustic mandolinists, legendary. Versed in folk, bluegrass, jazz, and more. He has explored the musical traditions of several countries the immigrants have brought here. He has played with some of this nation's finest - to acclaim. He can make the old and tired new, and he does it here. Unless you can't deal with Christmas music that isn't the same, commercial musac of the holiday season, I believe you will treasure this. Be warned: you may listen, and then go searching for more by this artist.

A couple of online reviewers have carped at the Donald Duck vocal on "We Wish You A Merry Christmas", but they are miserable Scrooges and deserve to be pummeled with roasted chestnuts, red-hot from the open fire. Okay....let's not go that far. But listen! It is not a "Donald Duck impersonator" you hear, but Clarence "Ducky" Nash himself, the man who voiced the Donald on a jillion Disney cartoons. This I learned from David Grisman himself. I went backstage after a show at the Iron Horse club in Northampton, Massachusetts, several months after "Acoustic Christmas" came out. I complimented him on his fine Donald Duck vocal, and he told me he did not do it himself, but secured the vocal services--if "vocal" is the right word--- of Mr. Nash. And in any event, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" is a very short cut.The rest of the album is Duck-free, and still sounds fresh. Apart from the Respighi, every song on this album is familiar, almost too familiar. When I saw the song list (and before I heard the album), I groaned---do we really need another "The Christmas Song", another "Silent Night"? But David Grisman and his fine sidepeople scrape away the layers of dreary tedious dutiful tradition and treat each song as a new adventure in musical puckishness. Listen to "Silent Night"----it's actually insouciant!! Bouncy!! How is this possible? But he does it. A guy plays throat tromnet---playing his mouth like a trumpet---and it will make you grin like a jack-o-lantern when you hear it.That David Grisman is a master mandolinist is hardly news. This is a charming holiday album. Give it a whirl.

Wow. For having been released in 1983, I can't believe I didn't find out about this record sooner. I purchased this about six weeks ago preparing for the holiday season. Amazing music created here for this project. Killer fiddle melodies, great guitar and banjo work (Taylor, Fleck), literally nobody disappoints on this one. Plus, Rob Wasserman is jamming bass which makes the whole experience extra smooth. If you're into this kinda stuff, I wouldn't hesitate. David Grisman is a fantastic musician who plays many styles, there are jazz/ space/ grass/ folk hints everywhere, but you'll never fully be able to pinpoint it and slap a label on it. It's all instrumental, I think that's because they really didn't need lyrics, the whole album is so clean and on point that you'll be listening and the words will just be there, you'll be singing and humming away and not even realize it! For a fellow who I'm pretty sure doesn't celebrate the Christmas holiday, he sure created some great Christmas music. Thanks David!!

The most unique arrangement of all your favorite Christmas classics. White Christmas is soft and sweet while Silent night opens like a proclamation of the most wondrous thing, the most precious gift man has ever received.A must have for anyone who loves music.

I play a lot of "seasonal" music in the course of my freelance audio gigs in November and December. It's records like this that keep me sane. Between this collection, and Beegie Adair's "Quiet Christmas", my Holiday spirit stays... calm. And Happy. These are necessary antidotes to the mall.

Somehow Christmas and mandolins just go together. Who better than Dog to play it. Love the CD.

Good selection, good mandolin and bass selections, a few corny pieces but over all very well done

My old one disappeared , had to get another.

More of a jazz sound than the similar CD by Butch Baldassari, but equally enjoyable.

ブルーグラス好きの知人に20年ほど前に教えてもらいました。Mike Marshall、Bela Fleck、Martin Taylorなどブルーグラスに疎い僕でも知ってるようなビッグ・ネームが名を連ねています。しっとりとマンドリンがテーマを奏でる曲から、いかにもブルーグラス風の曲まで幅広い印象ですが、非常に洗練された演奏で、完成度の高い素晴らしいアルバムと思います。もともとカントリーをあまり好きでないんですが、これは20年間忘れられなかった作品でした。ようやく今年購入して久しぶりに聴きましたが、やっぱり大満足でした。　なお、ジャケ裏のD.グリスマンのサンタ姿写真でマンドリンを弾く姿がへんちくりんで笑えます。

尽きせぬアイデアを惜しげも出してくれ続けてくれるDAWG。自分のバンドの構成楽器にこだわらない姿勢も素晴らしい。LP時代のB1にいたっては、豊穣なトレモロが埋め尽くすと予想していると。さらにテナーSAXがやさしく包み込む。それもB.Websterに捧ぐだって。機智にたけてます。唯一の欠点は、12月以外に聞きにくいこと。

３０年以上、聴き続け、買い続け、配り続けてきた、クリスマスの名盤です。今年、廃盤ですか…。この夏、アマゾンさんから入荷不可の連絡を頂き、愕然としました。もの凄く寂しいです（号泣）。美しい。只々、美しい。この一言です！