Southern Soul and Song

Mountain Heart and Tony Rice

Friday, December 5, 2008
7:30 p.m. at the Imperial Theatre

Awarded "Bluegrass Band of the Year" in 2002, Mountain Heart's irresistible blend of youthful energy, unfettered emotion, and polished artistry has taken them to the top ranks of the music industry. Together, these musicians have created something unique in bluegrass—a band that lays bare the heart of traditional, driving bluegrass and bluegrass gospel, yet also touches a much wider audience with heartfelt progressive material that looks far beyond the durable themes of yesteryear. Their instrumental prowess is unmatched, yet they also earned an International Bluegrass Music Association nomination for Vocal Group of the Year in 2001.

mountainheart.com

Tony Rice spans the range of acoustic music, from straight-ahead bluegrass to jazz-influenced new acoustic music, to songwriter-oriented folk. He is perhaps the greatest innovator in acoustic flatpicked guitar since Clarence White. Over the course of his career, he has played alongside J.D. Crowe and the New South, David Grisman (during the formation of “Dawg Music”), led his own groups, collaborated with fellow picker Norman Blake, and recorded with his brothers. He has recorded with drums, piano, soprano sax, and with straight-ahead bluegrass instrumentation.

tonyrice.com