McCoury’s Versatile Quintet Captures Spirit of Bluegrass

Singer-guitarist Del McCoury is a bluegrass veteran who took his stellar tenor to the legendary Bill Monroe band in the early ‘60s, then fronted several traditional bluegrass groups. He and his current band have garnered numerous honors, including 1994 and 1996 Grammy nominations for best bluegrass recording.

On stage Sunday at the Ash Grove, McCoury’s quintet handily demonstrated its virtuosity, yet the players never forgot to enjoy themselves. The spirit of the music dominated the 90-minute set, which was democratically designed to showcase both the band and each member. The transitions flowed naturally, and camaraderie reigned among McCoury, bassist Mike Bub, fiddle player Jason Carter and McCoury’s sons, banjoist Rob and mandolinist Ronnie.

The tempo in bluegrass tends to be peppy, even when the songs are mournful, and the group offered plenty of traditional, high-speed twanging on standards, gospel tunes and such originals as “The Cold Hard Facts,” the title track of its Grammy-nominated 1996 album. But McCoury also borrows from the blues, giving his music a touch of soul, and rock, resulting in such unexpected selections as Tom Petty’s “Love Is a Long Road.”

The band’s vocal harmonizing was as masterful as its playing. McCoury’s acrobatic, “high-lonesome” tenor rang surprisingly rich, at times keening dolefully, other times meshing sweetly with the ensemble. For all these dazzling displays of expertise, however, perhaps the group’s finest feature was its lively fellowship. That’s what really kept the house rocking.