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
Bluegrass has a number of songs that reflect on working. The nature of the work has changed over the years. But even if it’s office work, it exacts...

Bought by WTIP, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, Prairie Public, and WAMU


  • Added: Aug 21, 2009
  • Length: 05:51
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
piece suggested for Sept 19 – 26, 2009

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Aug 21, 2009
  • Length: 06:31
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Program suggested for Aug 29 - Sept 4, 2009

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Aug 19, 2009
  • Length: 05:07
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Gem suggested for Aug 22-28, 2009

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Aug 19, 2009
  • Length: 03:41
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Old time string bands and bluegrass groups have always been very different from Pop. One big difference relates to smoothness. Pop has always had i...

  • Added: Jul 21, 2009
  • Length: 07:11
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Although pop and bluegrass are very different, pop is able to mine bluegrass from time to time.

  • Added: Jul 21, 2009
  • Length: 06:55
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
piece suggested for Aug 1-7, 2009 for regular users. But there's no real date peg.

  • Added: Jul 10, 2009
  • Length: 08:36
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
piece suggested for July 25-31, 2009. But there's no real date peg.

  • Added: Jul 10, 2009
  • Length: 07:51
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
One role for music is a vehicle for fantasy. You’ve heard songs about perfect sweethearts, and perfect love affairs. Bluegrass is that way, too. Bu...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Jul 01, 2009
  • Length: 06:34
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Bluegrass is a combination of many styles originating in America, Europe and Africa. But bluegrass is considered American. Ask bluegrass players wh...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Jun 26, 2009
  • Length: 07:24
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
You know what bluegrass and old time music get from the old ballad singers? It’s the frank way the sung stories unfold. And when we listeners hear ...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Jun 25, 2009
  • Length: 08:24
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Bluegrass is a combination of many styles originating in America, Europe and Africa. But bluegrass is considered American. Ask bluegrass players wh...

Bought by WRFA-LP


  • Added: Jun 24, 2009
  • Length: 07:24
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
When you play bluegrass banjo, you can use a combination of formulas and invented playing techniques. You put a lot of sweat equity in learning the...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Jun 14, 2009
  • Length: 06:02
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
So many players get started by imitating what they've heard. They just have to make that pretty sound. But in the process of learning, the music ch...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Jun 10, 2009
  • Length: 07:11
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
In bluegrass, there is the mandolin, the guitar, the fiddle, the banjo and the bass, and sometimes the dobro. And that’s it. But why the limitation...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: May 28, 2009
  • Length: 07:40
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Over the short history of bluegrass, its audience has changed from rural to urban. It broke off from the country music industry. It grew from a reg...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: May 21, 2009
  • Length: 06:48
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Every music tradition changes over time, including bluegrass. It’s natural think that change means it gets more complex. But sometimes, the old stu...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: May 16, 2009
  • Length: 07:30
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
What’s real in bluegrass songs? It’s the detail about life in whatever era that makes it seem real. Funny, bluegrass reality usually focuses on har...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: May 16, 2009
  • Length: 06:29
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
In the 1920’s record companies discovered a wealth of old time music talent in the south, and a southern audience for the music, too. So the compan...

Bought by Georgia Public Broadcasting, KZYX, and WAMU


  • Added: May 06, 2009
  • Length: 06:09
  • Purchases: 3
Piece image
piece suggested for May 9 - 15, 2009

Bought by KZYX and WAMU


  • Added: Apr 30, 2009
  • Length: 06:50
  • Purchases: 2