Stereotyped by the outside world as three-chord wonders, country musicians are actually some of the most imaginative and technically adroit musicians in all American music. The blend of country instrumentation, jazz improvisation, and pop repertoire was never better illustrated than on the 1954 RCA 10-inch album String Dustin' featuring Chet Atkins, Homer and Jethro and Jerry Byrd. It's rounded out here with additional titles, including a 1956 session with jazz guitarist George Barnes.
G**.
Early Chet Atkins
Fun to hear Chet and others in their early years.
J**Y
Western Swing At It's Best
Are five Stars all I can give this record? Seems like they're being short changed. Most All Star bands are just a pairing of a few has beens with a name draw. This band puts together the best line up from the Golden Age Of Nashville. Jethro Burns on Mandolin. Chet Atkins, Homer Haynes and George Barnes on Guitar. Jerry Byrd on Pedal Steel and Dale Potter on Fiddle. These guys defined the sound for dozens of recordings. You can't have a pulse and not swing to this record. Smile from ear to ear and tap along. This album is a classic. This version is longer than the original 1953 release. Very good stuff. They don't make many like this anymore.
R**.
Great music from great musicians. Homer Haynes, Jethro Burns, Chet Atkins, and fantastic fiddler Dale Potter, and more.
Great music from great musicians. Worth buying for the fantastic fiddling of Dale Potter, knows as Mr. Double Stop. Homer and Jethro with Chet Atkins make it a superb CD.
W**R
Great stuff but be clear what it is...
I agree with the previous reviewer about the quality of this material, but let's be clear -- this isn't western swing, it's jazz, jazz, jazz played by the hottest Nashville session players of the 1950's (the famous Nashville Cats of the song). Jethro Burns has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most innovative jazz mandolinists ever, and Dale Potter.... well, everyone was trying to play fiddle like him. Vassar Clements got almost all his whole style from Potter. And one final correction: Jerry Byrd never, ever went near a pedal!
P**R
A Great CD!
A Great CD! This CD replaces an earlier LP that is extremely hard to find today. The fun of listening to Country performers playing Jazz is a real treat. A Must Have for any Chet Atkins Collector.
A**S
Great playing, but, um, singing.
Great players, but, well, the singing is a bit tough on the ears. I'm out of my core genre here, so your mileage may vary. Interesting, in any event.
J**Y
More than expected
Wonderful collection and sound . . . the Bear Family does it again!
H**M
All star country string-jazz session
This CD reproduces the 1954 RCA ten-inch String Dustin', featuring country legends Chet Atkins, Homer Haynes, Jethro Burns and Jerry Byrd, and adds sides from 1956 that augment the all star lineup with jazz guitarist George Barnes. In retrospect, it's easy to think of Atkins picking jazz, but at the time it was still unusual for country artists to cross over. Those who know Homer & Jethro from their comedy records may be surprised by their top-notch guitar and mandolin playing. The material is a mix of pop and jazz, and the group (which included a changing line-up of session bassists, drummers and pianists, as well as fiddle player Dale Potter) gives most of these tunes a hillbilly twist. Haynes, Burns and Byrd each sing a few, but the real charm of these sessions is the high-spirited instrumental interplay. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]
P**R
Gypsy cowboys from the hills
Excellent music
A**R
Great music from some of the best players of all time
This album is complete fun. If you are a fan of Chet Atkins, George Barnes, Jerry Byrd, Jethro Burns, or any of the other players, this is a 'must have' album. It is more jazz than country.
