Twisted Sage

Most folks don’t think of traditional, old time, or bluegrass fiddlers hailing from New York City. Longtime musician, session player, actor, and TV and movie soundtrack contributor Kenny Kosek is out to prove you can’t judge a book by where it was printed.

Kosek’s new album, Twisted Sage, a collaboration with banjo maestro Tony Trischka and other notable guests, is a fun listen for anyone into traditional banjo-fiddle tunes, some with a newfangled twist. Joining the duo on the album are Andy Statman (mandolin), Marty Cutler (banjo), and Mark Cosgrove (guitar).

The album has the feel of a good time, and “Streak o’ Lean Streak o’ Fat,” a tune that goes back to at least 1931, is the perfect kickoff. Listeners might also recognize “Turkeys in the Straw” (a take on the original), “Jewish Dance,” “Bill Cheatham,” and “Maiden’s Prayer” among a few others.

There are four original tunes, “Lost River Medley,” “Gojira County Breakdown,” “William Cheatham,” and the title track, “Twisted Sage.” There’s plenty of bounce and foot-tapping to be had along all 15 tracks.

This is Kosek’s first solo project since 1997’s Angelwood. He’s played with a variety of A-Listers over his 50-plus-year career, ranging from Willie Nelson and James Taylor to Chaka Khan. Interestingly enough, several of the pieces collected for this album were recorded more than a decade ago, but they all blend together wonderfully, which is a certain indication of the chops and consistency of the old master artist.