Product Description "These Boots" spotlights a very talented and multi-faceted San Francisco Bay Area bluegrass band at home not only with traditional bluegrass but also with contemporary fusions that incorporate folk, gospel, jazz and classical influences. Blending the traditional (Bill Clifton's "Are You Alone," the Bailes Brothers' "Travelling the Highway Home" and Paul Clayton's "Gotta Travel On") with great tunes from leading contemporary songwriters (Fernando Ortega's "Virginia Rose," Dwight Yoakam's "The Heart That You Own" and Buddy Miller's "Does My Ring Burn Your Finger?"), Due West contributes five strong original tracks to "These Boots," including two new instrumentals from banjoist Bill Evans. Review "Due West is a contemporary bluegrass band of the highest caliber. Don t pass this one up!" -- David "Dawg" Grisman, "These Boots" liner notes"San Francisco's finest bend the boundaries of bluegrass, incorporating a jazzy adventurousness while respecting the grassy traditions." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune, February 2003"They combine all the essential ingredients - smooth vocal harmonies, instrumental virtuosity and great tunes - in refreshingly different ways." -- David "Dawg" Grisman, liner notes About the Artist Banjo player Bill Evans is well known from his work with Dry Branch Fire Squad and his solo project "Bill Evans Plays Banjo," a top bluegrass instrumental CD of 2001. Guitarist Jim Nunally also performs with John Reischman and the Jaybirds and was recently featured on the cover of "Flatpicking Guitar" magazine. Fiddler Chad Manning is quickly becoming the hottest young fiddler on the West Coast, at home with bluegrass, old time, swing and Texas styles. Mandolin player Erik Thomas is a Bay Area bluegrass veteran. On this recording, his swing influenced mandolin playing and soulful singing is a revelation. Bassist Cindy Browne has worked with such jazz and entertainment greats as Lionel Hampton, Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughn, Bob Hope and...Phyllis Diller! See more
