ED HENRY: The Grand Reunion

Doug Meek and his father, Brad Meek of the noted Meek family of Fiddlers. (7 September 2014)

7 September 2014:

      It took me a while to figure out what was going on, but bluegrass music has a way of making you eventually see the light. Then I got home and downloaded all my pictures and it became abundantly clear in all my photos from Jumbo Jimmy's Crab Shack. There was a Grand Reunion going on and the Master of Ceremonies was the incomparable Danny Paisley and his group of excellent musicians known as "Southern Grass." Danny Paisley and Southern Grass was the reason I was at Jumbo Jimmy's Crab Shack. He's been busy touring all summer and to see him perform in front of a huge audience is one thing; to see him perform (and have fun) up close and personal in a place like Jumbo Jimmy's and in front of family and friends is quite a different experience indeed. I therefore felt like one of the fortunate few who was there to experience it. Earlier in the week Brad Meek asked me if I would be there on Sunday. I gave him an affirmative. Brad is the father of the brilliant and talented (and very young!) Douglas Meek, primo Fiddler for Danny's band. I don't get to see Brad very often. Joyce Miller and Fran Honeycutt greeted me when I came into Jimmy's and both let me know their families would be on hand to see Danny Paisley. Pretty soon I was introduced to cousins, relatives, aunts and uncles, and the proceedings and dancing got pretty raucous as Danny commenced to do what he does best: play music.

      He played to a full house of friends and family and people who love Danny Paisley and accept his music and his talent. I would imagine that Danny Paisley's style of singing and interpreting the music wouldn't be everybody's cup of tea. At times he's almost bordering on caterwauling and yelling, but there are times where he's absolutely brilliant in the expressed emotion. He knows exactly where he wants to go with any given song selection. It sounds so darned good for another huge reason: keeping up with every audible level, every note, every change in nuance is bassist Eric Troutman. The vocal work of Eric and Danny is reason enough to catch a Danny Paisley performance, but then add the vocal and banjo of Mark Delaney. Mark Delaney is also an excellent soloist in his own right, but rarely solos when playing with Southern Grass. I hate the hackneyed term 'Deadly.' More confirming to say that the ultimate goal has been reached by Danny and Southern Grass - this is a team effort to produce authenticity and good music. Each member recognizes the talent and potential of the other. That kind of leadership comes down from the top - every Marine knows that and accepts it. One of the most difficult things in music is to instill teamwork among a bunch of acoustical pickers. It doesn't take long for an audience to catch on to a 'Hot-Dog' especially in bluegrass music. They don't last long on a stage or at a local jam. This why I love bluegrass. What seems so simple in the hands of a master like Danny Paisley doesn't explain all the complexities of putting together a masterful package. You have to listen to, and understand the intricacies. To repeat an old, over-used cliche, it takes everybody playing off the same sheet of music; but taking time to show-case your talent is an added bonus when you're watching and listening to Danny. This is where Ryan Paisley, Mark Delaney, Eric Troutman, and Doug Meek really shine forth. And when it happens to be really good, you're rewarded with that crazed Danny Paisley Smile.

      I felt privileged to see a lot of that smiling last Sunday. The dance floor was hot. Nobody wanted the two encores to quit. On a rare and delightful Sunday evening nobody wanted Danny and Company to pack up their instruments and go home. There were lots of Millers, Paisleys, Lundys, Honeycutts, and Abels in the audience having a grand impromptu Family Reunion of the representative families of Maryland Traditional bluegrass. Once in a while the planets line up just right. The driving force is bluegrass at its best. What a great time to spend with Brad and Doug Meek. Till I see you again, Brad.