Coming home

"Mark O'Connor remains one of the most restless and rewarding talents in American music, a violinist with roots in the deepest bluegrass traditions who has, over a span of 40 years, merged stylistic elements of pop, jazz, world, and classical into a singular career. Simply listing three of his collaborators from among the more than 500 recordings he has participated in-Emmylou Harris, Yo Yo Ma, and Wynton Marsalis-makes the breadth of his talent and influence plain. His latest project is the aptly titled Coming Home, a return to his bluegrass roots featuring a crack band centered around his family: his wife, fellow violinist Maggie; his son, Forrest, on mandolin and lead vocals; Forrest's fiancé, Kate Lee, also on lead vocals and violin; with session players Joe Smart and Geoff Saunders on guitar and bass, respectively. Like his many previous band iterations, this group knows how to mix it up, adding elements of pop and progressive bluegrass to the 12-song collection".

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"Mark O'Connor is clearly the star of this show, but his bandmates are more than capable, and Forrest O'Connor and Kate Lee are fine lead vocalists who season the group's instrumental blend with impressive skill. While some of Lee's songwriting leans a bit hard on pop-country tropes, the musicians more than compensate, and the material moves back and forth between traditionalism and contemporary bluegrass styles with easy authority. Coming Home is a splendid set of modern-day bluegrass with deep Appalachian soul".

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