Live From The Ryman
This dazzling live album doesn’t just capture an immensely accomplished musical ensemble in full court press. It also serves as a sort of ad hoc “best of” from Tyminski’s storied career as both a solo artist and as long-time singer-guitarist-mandolinist with Alison Krauss and Union Station.
Additionally, with originals such as “God Fearing Heathen,” “Goat,” “Ode to Jimmy,” “Silence of the Brandy, and the previously unreleased “Whiskey Drinking Man,” this collection illustrates Tyminski’s prowess as a songwriter.
For the opening track, Tyminski pulls out 2004’s “This Sad Song” (cowritten by Krauss and Alison Brown) which he originally recorded with Krauss. Three of the selections here—“Ode to Jimmy” (a tribute to Jimmy Martin, his childhood musical hero), the somber “Silence of the Brandy” and the profound “God Fearing Heathen” first appeared on God Fearing Heathen, Tyminski’s number-one Billboard album of last year.
The retrospective would not be complete without a rousing reprise of “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow,” which more or less put Tyminski on the map when he recorded it for the multi-million selling soundtrack of the movie, O Brother Where Art Thou.
The Dan Tyminski Band includes Gaven Largent on Dobro and backing vocals, Maddie Denton on fiddle and vocals, Harry Clark on mandolin and vocals (all three of whom are members of East Nash Grass), Grace Davis on bass and Jason Davis on banjo. And they, along with Tyminski, are one spectacular unit.
They really rip into some inspired tips of the hat to yesteryear, including a cover of The Stanley Brothers’ “Say Won’t You Be Mine.” There’s also a fiery reprise of “Cumberland Gap” and an extended and instrumentally adventurous rendition of “Old Home Place,” which Tyminski has called “the gold standard of bluegrass.”
Throughout these 13 songs, the audience is a subtle but electrifying presence. You can hear the crowd at the Ryman practically hanging on every note of as bandmembers trade licks on an eerie and old-timey-sounding Tyminski original called “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Hoe Corn.” The folks at the Ryman obviously know great music when they hear it.
