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Wires & Wood
The Johnny Staats Project
Wires & Wood
Genre: Country
 
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #1

The Johnny Staats Project arrives riding a wave of big-time media acclaim (The New York Times, People, CBS, and NBC, to name a few) and big-time expectations for Staats as a mandolin savior. Judge Wires & Wood by that ...  more »

     

CD Details

All Artists: The Johnny Staats Project
Title: Wires & Wood
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Giant
Release Date: 3/14/2000
Genre: Country
Styles: Bluegrass, Today's Country
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 093622474427

Synopsis

Amazon.com
The Johnny Staats Project arrives riding a wave of big-time media acclaim (The New York Times, People, CBS, and NBC, to name a few) and big-time expectations for Staats as a mandolin savior. Judge Wires & Wood by that criteria and you may never find it a satisfying listen. However, when you finally grasp the idea that this is a debut record from a heretofore amateur musician and full-time UPS driver in West Virginia, you start to realize that Wires & Wood is an amazing achievement. Backed by many of Nashville's finest players, Staats nimbly balances a number of styles ranging from straight-ahead bluegrass to Celtic reels to gentle lullabies to thoughtful folk. He's well versed in the "jazzgrass" style popularized by folks like David Grisman, offering several crafty, cunning instrumentals that prove him to be a surprisingly evocative and engaging composer. At the heart of it all, of course, is Staats's astonishing mandolin work: it's incredibly fleet and fluid, boasting clarity, precision, and taste at even the most ridiculous speeds. He doesn't resort to pet licks and there rarely seems to be a superfluous note amid the torrent. He's also a rich, honey-voiced tenor singer, even if his voice is not his greatest strength; at the very least, his earnest vocal songs give you a chance to catch your breath. Ultimately, the Staats Project may not do anything that the Grisman Quintet or the Tony Rice Unit didn't do 25 years ago, but the fact that he does it as well says quite a bit about this no-longer-hidden talent. --Marc Greilsamer

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CD Reviews

Magic Mandolin
Michael B Love | Ellijay, Ga United States | 04/27/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've listened to a lot of mandolin, from classical Italian to US bluegrass, and Johnny Staats is the most amazing musician I've ever heard. He wears my ears out trying to listen, sometimes to the point that I don't even know what instrument I'm listening to. Some of this music simply defies stereotypical description. It came to me from a recommendation of a friend of mine, and it's the most pleasant surprise I've had in years!!!"
Still listening after 2 years
The Liberal Patriot | 06/21/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm still listening to this cd about once a month even after owning it for 2 years. All I have to say is that it's time for another one. I've been ready for 2 years!"
Amagzing Progressive Grass
The Liberal Patriot | - Some where East of the Cumberland | 05/24/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This musicainship on album is so good it will enthrall even non bluegrass fans.The crisp, clean, taught string artistry wound by jim hurst and johnny staats will draw you in. Music and compostion this good transcend genre.Escape from Taiwan resembles Steely Dan. Blow some old New York hippies mind turn them on to bluegrass. This is the album to do it."