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
Gems of Bluegrass #1642. Tragic Romances
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
All end of relationship songs involve personal tragedy but some have circumstances that really capture our attention. This was as true hundreds of ...

  • Added: Sep 24, 2016
  • Length: 06:00
Gems of Bluegrass #1638. The Words Matter
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Philip Nusbaum, Credit: Karen Van Norman
There’s a lot in bluegrass song lyrics. And yes, we know that many people use bluegrass music as the background to whatever else is going on, or ev...

  • Added: Sep 05, 2016
  • Length: 06:46
Gems of Bluegrass #1637. Another Look at the Bluegrass Wall of Sound
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Through electronic manipulation, many kinds of music bands can be recorded so that all of the instruments can be heard. Walls of sound have detract...

  • Added: Aug 20, 2016
  • Length: 06:55
The Cover Song in Bluegrass
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
In every style of music there’s a cutting edge and a musical history. In Bluegrass they both matter.

  • Added: Aug 06, 2016
  • Length: 05:14
Gems 1633 Still Another Look at the Coo Coo Bird
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
The Cuckoo Bird is a very old song. It’s iconic recorded version is done solo, but in recent years, it’s evolved into a group song.

  • Added: Jul 20, 2016
  • Length: 06:31
Gems of Bluegrass #1631. Frank Wakefield and the New Camptown Races
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Frank Wakefield. He is one of the most compelling figures in the history of Bluegrass. He is over 80 now, but sees no reason to quit performing and...

  • Added: Jul 12, 2016
  • Length: 04:54
Gems of Bluegrass #1630. Some Final Thoughts About Ralph Stanley
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/ 2013 Zeitfunk , Credit: Karen Van Norman
By the turn of the twenty-first century, Ralph Stanley had become synonymous with traditional bluegrass. After world war two in the late 1940s, Ral...

  • Added: Jun 30, 2016
  • Length: 05:56
Gems of Bluegrass #1628: Bluegrass and Summer
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/ 2013 Zeitfunk , Credit: Karen Van Norman
Bluegrass is the season everybody waits for, so there must be a lot of songs about it, right? Well, no. But it’s still the bluegrass season .

  • Added: Jun 26, 2016
  • Length: 06:01
Gems 1627: Bluegrass Music: A Great Tradition from Many Sources
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/ 2013 Zeitfunk , Credit: Karen Van Norman
The piece shows that despite that bluegrass is considered a singular styles, it actually stems from a variety of cultural traditions.

  • Added: Jun 16, 2016
  • Length: 08:34
Gems of Bluegrass #1621. Bill Monroe Songs Inspire New Bluegrass
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Bill Monroe casts a long shadow in bluegrass music. You can tell by the way his influence is felt in bluegrass music. It’s not only that others pla...

  • Added: Apr 29, 2016
  • Length: 05:58
Gems 1618 To Play it the Old Way or a New Way. Piece suggested for April 30 – May 6, 2016. But there's no real date peg.
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
We are accustomed to using names of music styles. You know, bluegrass, old time music, pop, jazz and on and on. And these styles get mixed together...

  • Added: Apr 06, 2016
  • Length: 07:55
Gems #1614 The Deep Melancholy: A Recent Bluegrass Mood. Piece suggested for Apr 2-8, 2016. But there's no real date peg.
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Philip Nusbaum, Credit: Phil w/ 2012 Zeitfunk Karen Van Norman
The history of bluegrass is mostly evolution. So what’s new under the bluegrass sun? Some say it’s a new kind of sung expression: the deep melancholy.

  • Added: Mar 10, 2016
  • Length: 06:49
Gems 1613 Further Notes on the Jazz– Bluegrass connection. Piece suggested for Mar 26 – Apr 1, 2016. But there's no real date peg.
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
You know how people say they’re jazzed about some things, including bluegrass. They mean they’re excited. Bluegrass and jazz are different idioms o...

  • Added: Mar 01, 2016
  • Length: 07:15
Gems 1610 "Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass: Innovation or Evolution?"
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Sometimes it is hard to tell whether a change in music is an evolution or the result of someone’s great idea. For example, Bill Monroe’s bluegrass ...

  • Added: Feb 09, 2016
  • Length: 07:19
Gems of Bluegrass #1609 Evolution of Bill Monroe's Instrumental Playing
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Philip Nusbaum, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Bill Monroe’s blue grass music was more than one thing. He did many types of songs, and he showed an evolution in his playing and writing. Take his...

  • Added: Feb 04, 2016
  • Length: 04:00
Gems of Bluegrass #1608. Blues Influence in Bluegrass Music. Regular users piece for Feb 20-26, but there's no real date peg. Piece relates to Black History Month and
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
The Blues tonality and the blues form come from African American people. The blues long been thought to have begun as field hollers and moans, and ...

Bought by WAER Syracuse, NY


  • Added: Jan 26, 2016
  • Length: 07:45
  • Purchases: 1
Gems 1606 Virtuosity. Piece suggested for Feb 6 -Feb 12, 2016. But there's no real date peg.
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Bluegrass music has been a long time in the making. The sentimental songs the Carter Family sang and the rough and tumble lyrics of Jimmie Rodgers ...

  • Added: Jan 16, 2016
  • Length: 06:40
Gems #1605 Jimmie Rodgers Bluegrass Icon. Piece suggested for January 30-Feb 5, 2016. But there's no real date peg.
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/ 2012 Zeitfunk , Credit: Karen Van Norman
Jimmy Rodgers. He was the first singing star of old time music. Jimmie was a contemporary of the Carter Family. Like the Carter Family, in part of ...

  • Added: Jan 13, 2016
  • Length: 06:10
Gems of Bluegrass #1604. Another Look at the Long Shadow of Flatt and Scruggs. Piece suggested for January 16-22, 2016. But there's no real date peg.
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Bill Monroe is the Father of Bluegrass. But the most popular band in the history of bluegrass? Well, it could be Flatt and Scruggs. Lester Flatt an...

  • Added: Jan 04, 2016
  • Length: 07:30
Gems of Bluegrass #1603. The Beauty of Bluegrass and the Beauty of Jazz. Piece suggested for January 16-22, 2016. But there's no real date peg.
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
There is a lot to like about jazz and a lot to like about bluegrass. Each has appealing legacy, each owes to the blues, and each is a musician’s mu...

  • Added: Dec 23, 2015
  • Length: 06:01

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