Gems of Bluegrass

Series produced by Philip Nusbaum

Series image

short modules about bluegrass music

Each under 5-minutes, highly produced "Gems of Bluegrass" module discusses a key element of bluegrass music. Some Gems of Bluegrass relate to a particular bluegrass style or sub style, repertoire, commonplace bluegrass themes, playing techniques or study the work of a particular artist.

Each Gem of Bluegrass contains snips of music taken from CD, along with Phil Nusbaum's commentary. Phil is an experienced radio producer, bluegrass scholar and bluegrass performer.

Each Gem of Bluegrass also appears on the Bluegrass Review broadcast with the same number. (The Bluegrass Review is a one-hour bluegrass show available free of charge from PRX, or from Phil Nusbaum. For information on the show, see the Bluegrass Review listing on Phil Nusbaum's section of the PRX website or go to www.bluegrassreview.com.

Gems of Bluegrass fit well on established Bluegrass or folk shows, and can be used to forward promote the Bluegrass Review. Hide full description

Each under 5-minutes, highly produced "Gems of Bluegrass" module discusses a key element of bluegrass music. Some Gems of Bluegrass relate to a particular bluegrass style or sub style, repertoire, commonplace bluegrass themes, playing techniques or study the work of a particular artist. Each Gem of Bluegrass contains snips of music taken from CD, along with Phil Nusbaum's commentary. Phil is an experienced radio producer, bluegrass scholar and bluegrass performer. Each Gem of Bluegrass also appears on the Bluegrass Review broadcast with the same number. (The Bluegrass Review is a one-hour bluegrass show available free of charge from PRX, or from Phil Nusbaum. For information on the show, see the Bluegrass Review listing on Phil Nusbaum's section of the PRX website or go to... Show full description


363 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
for regular users, program for Nov 20 - 26, 2010. Others use anytime.

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Nov 05, 2010
  • Length: 07:05
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
for regular users, piece for Dec 11 - 18, 2010. Others use anytime.

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Nov 19, 2010
  • Length: 09:37
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
for regular users, piece for Dec 3 - 10, 2010

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Nov 19, 2010
  • Length: 06:03
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
for regular users, piece for Nov 27 - Dec 3, 2010. for others, use anytime

Bought by WMMT, WDVX , and WAMU


  • Added: Nov 19, 2010
  • Length: 04:52
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
for regular users, show for Dec 18 - 24, 2010. For othrs, use any time.

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Nov 21, 2010
  • Length: 03:17
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
for regular users, piece for December 25 - 31, 2010. Others use any time.

  • Added: Nov 30, 2010
  • Length: 03:17
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
for regular users, piece for Jan 25 - 31, otherwise use anytime

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Nov 30, 2010
  • Length: 06:23
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
for regular users, program for Jan 1 - 7, 2011. Others, use anytime.

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Nov 30, 2010
  • Length: 04:32
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
for regular users, program for Jan 15 - 21, 2011. Others use any time.

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Dec 05, 2010
  • Length: 06:08
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil head shot, Credit: Karen Van Norman
For regular users, Gem for Jan 22-28, 2011. Others use anytime.

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Jan 11, 2011
  • Length: 07:37
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Cowboy songs and mountain songs are two grassroots traditions. But these traditions were separated by geography, and didn’t influence each other mu...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Jan 16, 2011
  • Length: 06:31
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil Nusbaum, Credit: Karen Van Norman
To folk music scholars, a style of folk music represents a specific group of people, but also has relationships with surrounding cultures. For a lo...

Bought by Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM 1020/FM 91.9-WLHV FM 88.1 /WGHQ AM 920 and WAMU


  • Added: Jan 23, 2011
  • Length: 09:29
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Phil Nusbaum, Credit: Claire Nusbaum
Many bluegrass songs depict heavy burdens borne by characters in songs, and by us listeners. That's the subject of this Gem of Bluegrass.

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Jan 29, 2011
  • Length: 07:05
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Bluegrass has always treated dark subjects. But today, it can present a blue instrumental mood, too, and that is the topic of today’s Gem of Bluegr...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Feb 11, 2011
  • Length: 09:12
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil with PRX award, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Great interpretation is what everybody is searching for. SOme great examples are presented herein. For regular users, show for Feb 26 - Mar 4, 2011.

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Feb 16, 2011
  • Length: 04:37
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
The song Wayfaring Stranger first appeared in a mid nineteenth century book of religious songs. Over the years, we've heard the Wayfaring Stranger ...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Feb 24, 2011
  • Length: 05:52
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
for regular users, piece for mar 19-25, 2011. There are many ways to play bluegrass today but the prevailing mood of bluegrass music is till "exub...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Mar 11, 2011
  • Length: 07:31
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Bluegrass for the most part problematizes aging.

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Mar 15, 2011
  • Length: 06:21
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
for regular users, show for April 2-9, 2011. Others use anytime. Piece focuses on how the musical form of the blues plays in bluegrass music.

Bought by WDVX and WAMU


  • Added: Mar 20, 2011
  • Length: 04:35
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Philip at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
for regular users, program for Apr 9-15, 2011. Others use anytime. Piece is about how lyrics of songs are often short pieces that speak to the times.

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Mar 30, 2011
  • Length: 06:33
  • Purchases: 1