Amazon.com: When Bill Monroe pushed the mandolin forward as a lead instrument, he opened a Pandora's box of musical possibilities, but even he couldn't have imagined a recording like this. Neither classical nor jazz nor bluegrass, the sound owes much to David Grisman--whom Marshall studied under and Thile worshipped--who just called it "dawg music." Call these live instrumentals "cat music": slinky, cool, effete, at times sphinx-like, at times blissed out on improvisational 'nip. Culled from a range of small-theater concerts in the winter of 2003, the set emphasizes original compositions--some written collaboratively--and one Bach revision, plus a blazing Bulgarian folk tune. Though writing credits are split evenly, Marshall is the de facto leader here. His jaunty, funky rhythms keep Thile's capricious twists grounded through the time shifts of "The Only Way Out," and his playful countermelodies turn the pastoral, seven-minute excursion "Joy Ride in a Toy Car/Hey Ho" into an experiment from a time machine set to either 1740 or 2740. The improvisation on a Bach violin partita, however, conveys the warmest, clearest melody, while "Sedi Donka" deserves its own genre: thrashgrass. Hearing these two maestros, the most expert mandolinist will likely succumb to despair--albeit a dizzying, lyrical, even beautiful despair. --Roy Kasten
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - This = Good
If you know what's good for you, you'll buy this album. If you don't buy this album...well, I don't even want to think about that possibility. However bad or good your life is, listening to this music ... Read More
Rating: - Transcendent.
Gorgeous, fascinating, mind-altering musical collaboration. I can't stop listening to these pieces. Each one is different and each one is a seamless fabric made up of many adventures. This album captures ... Read More
Rating: - Enchanting
I love this cd...at first I thought it would simply be pleasant "background music" (which is is) but found that I couldn't help but be engaged with every song. The more I listen to it, the more I find and ... Read More
Rating: - The duo works well together to create nuance and significant emotional content
Playing Time - 53:00 -- With Mike Marshall in the left speaker, and Chris Thile in the right, "Live Duets" captures two virtuoso mandolin masters at work. After the opening cut of their composition, "Shoulda ... Read More
Rating: - Genius cannot begin to describe this.
Have you listened to this album yet? If not, you are leading a sad, sad life. I am beginning to think that Chris Thile could take a poo on a mandolin and it would sound amazing. This is my first taste of Mike ... Read More
