In the course of a career that has spanned more than six decades, David Grisman has had an immeasurable impact on American acoustic music. A trail-blazing instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, and creator of a living musical genre, David has influenced contemporary string players from Bluegrass to Pop and Jazz. We are delighted that he will be joining us on Saturday May 17th to present a workshop on arranging, and to participate in a moderated conversation about his music and his vital work as a conservator of string traditions. We doubt that he needs much of an introduction to anyone who’s considering attending Red Hot Strings, but we shall nonetheless try…

David was already among the firmament of a new generation of Bluegrass innovators with direct connections to the the originators of the music (Clarence White, Bill Keith, Richard Greene, Peter Rowan) when the first David Grisman Quintet (DGQ) album was released in 1977. This record introduced the world to what came to be known as Dawg Music, a style of acoustic string-band music rooted in David’s compositions and nimble mandolin, which assimilated elements of American Jazz, Gypsy Jazz (Django Reinhart and Stephane Grappelli), Bluegrass, and the energy and freedom of 1960’s Rock into a uniquely personal vision. Dawg Music’s demanding balance of tradition and transformation required a new kind of instrumental virtuosity and creative thinking. With David’s mandolin lighting the way, the DGQ introduced an ever-growing audience to pivotal string players such as Tony Rice, Darol Anger, Mike Marshall and Mark O’Connor, all of whom would go on to cast their own long shadows. Along the way, the DGQ’s tours and recordings with Stephane Grappelli in 1979 served to connect generations (and the dots) while showing the legendary violinist to be as inspired and inspiring as he was in the 1930’s.

David has also been a diligent archivist since his teenaged years when he was mentored by folklorist/mandolinist and neighbor Ralph Rinzler. He produced (and played with) 2nd generation Bluegrass torch-bearers Red Allen and Frank Wakefield for Folkways Records in 1963 at age 18, and formed the Bluegrass supergroup Old & In The Way with Jerry Garcia, Vassar Clements and Peter Rowan in 1973, and produced their classic LP. It was this dual role as an artist and a record producer that lead to the creation of his label Acoustic Disc in 1990. The label’s initial releases set the stage for the mix of contemporary, original and historical music that the label continues to regularly release: Grisman’s own Dawg 90 was followed by the first of many collaborations with longtime friend and musical partner Jerry Garcia, which in turn was followed by the first of two compilations of the quintessential Brazilian mandolinist and composer Jacob Do Bandolim. We would be remiss if we neglected to mention that among Acoustic Disc’s great 2024 releases is “Tenor Madness” by David and Red Hot Strings’ own Tyler Jackson.

In the decades since its founding, Acoustic Disc’s CDs have given way to Acoustic Oasis’ downloads. Both are essential resources for the preservation and distribution of historic 20th century string players who might otherwise have never received the recognition they now enjoy. In addition to Jacob do Bandolim, Acoustic Disc introduced new audiences to the playing of such pioneering string players as Oscar Aleman, Jethro Burns, Tiny Moore, George Barnes, Svend Asmussen, Giovanni Giovale, and Dave Apollon. The availability of these musicians’ recordings has surely launched a thousand pickers. We’re currently eagerly awaiting newly restored tracks from the great Italian mandolin virtuoso Giovanni Vicari – and the mushrooming of Italian mandolin trios that is sure to start popping up all over Bluegrass festival parking lots.

If all this might lead the reader to suspect that David Grisman has been a seminal influence on many of RHS staff, past and present, we can happily confirm those suspicions: We’re honored that David will be joining us for these special events on Saturday May 17th.