GRAMMY-Nominated Special Consensus to Release Country Boy: A Bluegrass Tribute to John Denver

Grammy-nominated Special Consensus joins forces with contemporary bluegrass music's best on Country Boy: A Bluegrass Tribute to John Denver slated for release on March 25. There is a natural affinity between bluegrass musicians and John Denver's repertoire but this is the first purely bluegrass tribute to the iconic singer/songwriter who died in 1997. 

Country Boy features Special Consensus at the musical center of each track with a guest cast of Grammy-winning and International Bluegrass Music Association-winning vocalists and instrumentalists joining in. Produced by Compass Records co-founder Alison Brown, the album's 10 tracks draw from across Denver's hits and lesser-known songs.

Talking about the genesis for the idea, band founder Greg Cahill comments: "I've met so many people who were affected by John's music and so many musicians who mention him as an inspiration. It felt like a bluegrass interpretation of his songs would be something really special and might also serve as a way to connect more people to bluegrass music."

And there is no question that the album achieves some special musical moments - both vocal and instrumental. Special Consensus mandolinist Rick Faris and reigning International Bluegrass Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year Claire Lynch share lead vocal duties on the album's first track "Wild Montana Skies", their vocal lines perfectly complemented by Rob Ickes' Dobro.  On "Country Roads," Special Consensus guitarist Dustin Benson and the legendary John Cowan swap verses against a tapestry of banjo and fiddle provided by Greg Cahill and Del McCoury band fiddler Jason Carter. And, in a surprise twist, Special Consensus delivers an all instrumental version of "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" with the twin fiddles of label mate Michael Cleveland and session ace Buddy Spicher AND twin banjos (Greg Cahill and Alison Brown). The entire cast of featured guests includes Dale Ann Bradley, Jason Carter, Mike Cleveland, John Cowan, Rob Ickes, Jim Lauderdale, Claire Lynch, Peter Rowan, Buddy Spicher and Rhonda Vincent.

Click here to watch video of "Wild Montana Skies" with Claire Lynch.

Be sure to catch the Track by Track on SiriusXM Bluegrass Junction with Kyle Cantrell, airing March 19 @ 11AM EST.

Tags : john denver john denver country boy john denver tribute