Jerry Douglas - Fluxology (1979)

Jerry Douglas was only 22 at the time he made his debut recording as a leader, on an album featuring a cast full of other rising stars. A masterful dobro player who not only respects his roots in bluegrass, Douglas, like guitarist Tony Rice, mandolinist and fiddler Ricky Skaggs, and violinist Darol Anger, also breaks new ground on his instrument. "Fluxology" is a marvelous original, with the leader trading off solos with Skaggs (on mandolin), Rice, Anger, and bassist Todd Phillips. "Bill Cheatham" is traditional bluegrass fare, played with honesty and spirit, with Skaggs doubling on fiddle and mandolin as well as banjo player Jack Hicks. Not many bluegrass musicians borrow from the Burt Bacharach songbook, but "Say a Little Prayer" ends up working very well within the genre. He signs off this Rounder LP with a lovely miniature ballad, "Blues for Vickie."