Mike Marshall is much like
Mark O'Connor, a virtuoso on several string instruments, an innovative composer and arranger who refuses to be pigeonholed stylistically, and also an alum of
David Grisman's band. Numerous
Grisman alumni turn up on this 1984 release, including violinist
Darol Anger, bassists
Todd Phillips and
Rob Wasserman, guitarist
Tony Rice, and even
Grisman himself, along with dobro player
Jerry Douglas,
Béla Fleck on banjo, violinist David Balikrishan (who would later co-found
the Turtle Island String Quartet with
Anger), and pianist
Barbara Higbie.
Marshall sticks primarily to mandolin on this mostly progressive bluegrass date, though he's also heard on mandola, mandocello, violin, and guitar. Highlights include the funky original "Gator Strut," "Ravel" (a solo effort featuring the leader overdubbed on several instruments while adapting a theme by the French Impressionist composer), a joint arrangement with
Anger of
John Coltrane's infrequently performed "Giant Hornpipe," and a brilliant interpretation of
Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight." ~ Ken Dryden