Very good interview. I got to wondering how Tony was doing. Glad to hear it sounds like he's hanging in there. Great recollections - takes me back, too. I was around in the mid-70's when Tony was playing with David Grisman et al in Santa Cruz, among other places. Lol - I hitchhiked all the way back east to learn bluegrass, wound up meeting a jazz guitarist in Knoxville. That completely turned me around to return to California to study jazz. Like Tony says, those were the days. Always loved his music. Glad to hear that healing is happening- it's a work in progress for all of us, myself included. Don't give up! Hope the best for smooth sailing for him ~
Awesome, thank you for this public service! It seemed to me that Mr. Rice's voice was sounding much improved. And the live music interspersed was amazing.
That's awesome!!!!!!! I have that entire radio show from Tokyo Japan & at least 3 or 4 from the GAMH in 77. Tony should definitely be very proud of that session. Everybody is playing great on that show!!!!!!! Bill Keith's banjo on "Beating Around The Bush" is absolutely killing it!!!!!!! In my opinion, the Tokyo radio show is Tony's very best vocal performance. His guitar work fits perfectly. The "antique" in my opinion, also sounds a little better than usual on that radio show. The "antique" has my favorite personality from 1976-1990. Jan, you & Tony talk about Tony singing high. He also sang a lot of tenor when he first joined with J.D Crowe back in 71. I don't know what the album was originally released as, but I currently know it as a J.D Crowe release called "Bluegrass Evolution". Tony is singing mostly tenor vocals on that entire album. @36:20 Is this the Tony Rice album Rebel released as "Guitar" with the hand drawn cover? If so, Tony is absolutely right!!!! The Japanese release sounds 1000 times better than the CD American version I have!!!!!!! I wish there would be a re release of the Japanese release. I always thought Tony was playing the Hylo Brown D-28 on that album. It sounds more like the Antique on the Japanese release. @36:57 LOL I always chuckle a little when hearing Tony bend that string off the fingerboard. In regards to his best album, I always felt like "Me & My Guitar" was an extremely emotional album & for that reason, it's my personal favorite of all time!!!! There has never been another album that has ever had such an emotional impact on me as that one has. I made it through a lot of dark times in my late teens & in my early 20s. All with God's help & many hrs of deeply listening to nothing but "Me & My Guitar". Almost 20 yrs later & those songs still stir me in the same way. Jan, thank you so very much for sharing these conversations with Tony!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I could leave you more than 1 like!!!!!!! I'm finding out that he & I think alike when it comes to certain things. I would still love to go fishing with him sometime. lol
Jan, really interesting to hear about Tony's jazzier albums selling better today. I wonder how much this is due also to online sales? - so anyone from anywhere can buy his albums and enjoy his genius. I am from New Zealand and discovered Tony online around 15 years ago as a young guitarist. If you speak with Tony again would you consider asking him his thoughts on the tune Backwaters and how he developed his chordal knowledge for tunes like this? The dual guitar intro with Tony and Wyatt is mind blowing and although I have one of his lesson cd's explaining how to play it, I was also wondering if he sat down alone or with Wyatt when working out the different parts? I will probably never meet Tony but the very next best thing is hearing him talk about his life and craft in conversations like this. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Sounds like you mistakenly reported the death of David Nichtern....he is very much alive. I am gonna take a leap here and guess that you were thinking about Jon Sholle, an eclectic guitarist who ran in similar circles and died a bit more than a year ago...Nichtern is @DavidNichtern on Twitter
