MUSIC FROM RANCHO DEVILLE

Charles Sawtelle

Guitarist Charles Sawtelle's business card had exactly one word on it under his name— “Expert". In the wake of his passing in 1999, we are blessed with Music From Rancho deVille, the studio recording Charles had been passionately working on with producer Laurie Lewis.

"The Bluegrass Mystery” as he was often called, spent 20-plus years in the Hot Rize bluegrass band with Tim O'Brien, Nick Forster and Pete Wernick. His former bandmates and an array of top drawer musicians including Norman Blake, Vassar Clements, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Michael Doucet, Todd Phillips, Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum and Flaco Jimenez contribute to the soulful musical grace that permeates the 16 tracks on Music From Rancho deVille.

Charles renders touching vocals on tracks like Woody Guthrie's "The Ranger's Command" and the Stanley Brothers’ “Angel Band,” while other vocals are rendered by Norman Blake on the Carter Family's "The Storms Are On The Ocean" and "Amber Tresses," and surprisingly, Vassar Clements delivers a craggy and tender version of Lefty Frizzell's "Mom and Dad's Waltz." Of the several instrumentals peppering this disc, the uncompromising beauty of Sawtelle's "My Life Is In Your Hands" reveals his mastery of tone and impeccable taste.

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