The New Acoustic Collective - Buckwild (2020)

Official Liner Notes
by Wyatt Rice

"It was the year 1976, and I was 11 years old, and got to witness something that was a musical life changing event for me. I got to see The David Grisman Quintet rehearse in Grisman’s home for their upcoming album that was released the following year, 1977. Seeing this musical event made me catch what I like to call the “spacegrass and dawg music bug”.

Fast forward many years later, I met Jason Keiser when I taught him guitar in the Bluegrass, Old-Time, & Country Music Studies program at ETSU years ago. Jason came to me to learn these innovative styles of acoustic music because he had also caught the “spacegrass and dawg music bug”.

Regarding the tunes on “Buckwild”, the record starts with “Dave’s Place”. Dave’s Place was a tune I wrote many years ago that was my first attempt to write a Dawg, SpaceGrass type of tune with a bluegrass twist. The A section or head was the main melody I was going for, but I knew it needed a B part, so that's what I call the Bluegrass section. It was just that way, giving the soloist the freedom to improvise the B section. In The New Acoustic Collective’s rendition there is a very nice intro that's longer, and upbeat. I really like how the cello adds a special flavor to it. Jason does a nice melody version up front, and a superb solo after the violin. Strong, and very jazzy. The violin solo by David Boyden is fantastic as well, then a great bass solo by Alonso Sanchez. Wow!

A great performance The New Acoustic Collective featuring Jason and Company. A more jazzier version than mine minus the banjo with cello added to the mix.

The New Acoustic Collective pay a wonderful tribute to the original David Grisman Quintet in their version of “E.M.D.”. Their version is great and I love how it sounds, it is so energetic and upbeat!

“Val’s for Dawg”, is an original composition of Jason’s that I am very proud of. It has Dawg written all over it and I thoroughly enjoyed the collective’s playing and improvisation throughout this new dawg music tune.

Overall, the music you hear The New Acoustic Collective play on their debut EP “Buckwild” holds and carries on the legacy of New Acoustic, Dawg, and spacegrass music to another generation of listeners, and musicians interested in mastering these innovative improvisational styles of music.

I couldn’t be more proud of how Jason and Company are carrying on the torch of dawg, and spacegrass music and highly recommend you check out “Buckwild”, by The New Acoustic Collective.

-Wyatt Rice

"New Acoustic Music has always existed on the outskirts of the bluegrass and jazz worlds since its creation.

While musicians sidelined from the traditional bluegrass world often find themselves in that space, it is less common to have jazz musicians reaching out from the other side – which when they do, makes it all the more delightful. The harsh reality of “spacegrass” is that while many can pull off the note filled solos, burning tempos, or intricate chord structures, very few can capture its true energy. On Buckwild, that is exactly what these young West Coast musicians
have done.

For fans of David Grisman or Tony Rice – or any new acoustic sound –Buckwild is a worthwhile journey deserving of more than just a casual listen. As this genre continues to evolve and be changed by younger musicians from many genres and places, let [The New Acoustic Collective] guide you through its Northern California origins to an exciting future."

-Thomas Cassell, mandolinist, educator, writer


The New Acoustic Collective

"Buckwild" Personnel:

Jason Keiser (Guitar, Tres, Mandolin), David Boyden (Fiddle), Alonso Sanchez (Pizzicato Double Bass), Rodrigo Ruiz (Arco/Pizz. Double Bass) & Nathaniel Grohmann (Cello).