BRYAN SUTTON INTERVIEW #2
(Originally aired on January 21, 2010)
Flatpicker extraordinaire Bryan Sutton started turning heads in his early 20s as a member of Ricky Skaggs’ band, Kentucky Thunder. Now, with acclaimed solo albums, a shelf full of awards and 15 years as a first-call Nashville session player under his belt, Sutton is ranked by bluegrass aficionados alongside such masters as Doc Watson (with whom he shares a Grammy), Clarence White, Tony Rice and Norman Blake. Hearing Sutton spin lightning-fast phrases on his Bourgeois and Martin dreadnoughts, it’s hard to imagine anyone picking a flattop with more power and finesse.
For his fourth solo album, Almost Live, Sutton gathered 17 of today’s finest acoustic musicians — including banjo player Béla Fleck, Dobroist Jerry Douglas, guitarist Russ Barenberg, mandolinist Chris Thile and fiddler Stuart Duncan — to tackle a mix of original and traditional tunes. Sutton’s command of bluegrass, Celtic, jazz manouche and mountain music is as impressive as his blistering speed and sparkling tone.
In our exclusive interview, Sutton talks about recording Almost Live and guides us into tracks from the album.