How Did We Do It
Graham Sharp is no stranger to bluegrass fans. For nearly a quarter century, he shared vocal duties with co-founder Woody Platt in one of the most successful groups of this century, the Steep Canyon Rangers.
When Platt announced his departure, the band regrouped, added another distinctive voice in Aaron Burdett, and kept going. Sharp’s distinctive deep baritone—you aren’t going to hear him on the radio and mistake him for someone else—and skill on the five-string have ushered in a new era for the group.
Sharp had also been collecting songs for some time that he says “fell loosely into the basket of love songs” and he’s now released them on his second solo project, How Did We Do It.
If some felt like his first effort was drifting more toward Country, this effort should show the Bluegrass roots are strong. Sharp said that this project was inspired by his influences Earl Scruggs, Terry Allen and John Hartford.
It’s hard to imagine a listener of the title track missing that these musicians are having a blast. It’s fun with a traditional feel and with the bounce one might expect from a banjo master who writes prolifically.
At nine songs, How Did We Do It leaves the listener wanting more, but goes out in style with the bluesy feeling “Angels Don’t Sleep,” one of the very best on the album. The others at the top of the sheet are “Living Like Thieves” and “Watertown.”
Sharp is joined on the album by Ranger Mike Ashworth as well as Jerry Douglas and Tommy Maher (dobro), Ryan Stigman (guitar and pedal steel), Lindsey Prueita and Casey Driessen (fiddle), Drew Matulich (mandolin), and the Studt Family Singers on harmony.
Sharp also said that the album serves as a “thank you” to his family for all the support over his long career and marks the ups and downs of life. Listeners won’t be disappointed.
