Drift

When the album kicks off with a tune entitled “Case of the Mundes,” you know the music is headed into an exploration and celebration of modern banjo sounds and when the other pickers include Sierra Hull, Bryan Sutton, Mike Bub, Justin Moses, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, you know the music is going to fly. 

Just when you catch your breath after the opening track, the next one, “Salmon Run,” blazes away at an even faster clip. The playing, however fast and intricate, always feels natural and human. Corbett the composer is at the center of the action, but this is clearly an ensemble production. He had this to say about the project: “When you’re recording with musicians of the caliber of Sierra Hall and Bryan Sutton, they know what they’re doing! I had certain arrangements in mind and sent everybody tunes in advance, but most of these weren’t rehearsed at all beforehand. I want people’s input and agency – it’s pretty rare for me to tell people what to play.” 

This album is a worthy addition to any collection of modern bluegrass-roots music recordings, with melodies that clearly grow from traditional sounds, and not bound by preconceived prejudices, are able to fly far and wide.