Earl Scruggs

More than 60 years after his first appearance on the stage of the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, banjo-picker Earl Scruggs played the concert there that this release documents. Joined by family (his two sons, Randy and Gary) and friends, he whooshes through 18 tracks, throwing in a little banter on the side, at a speed that belies his 83 years of age at the time of the show. Scruggs popularized the style of banjo picking that's named after him, which uses picks on the thumb, index and middle fingers to create a quick, clear sound conducive to showy breaks, and it's in full evidence here on many of his most famous songs, including "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" and "Foggy Mountain Breakdown"—probably the style's most familiar examples.

Scruggs's form of bluegrass is considerably cheerier than the exquisite wailings of the Stanley Brothers, with an outlook more Rick Warren than John Bunyan, even when the themes are religious. The recording quality is clear without being lush, a style that suits the material. The live feel is rarely distracting, although the spoken stuff from the stage is a little bit too quiet, and the atmosphere is kind of a laidback celebration of Scruggs's long history and unique talents, without excessive ovation. It may not be necessary for a Scruggs fanatic, who would already have all this material, in different versions, but it's a very pleasant casual listen.

—Hillary Brown
02.09.09

Earl Scruggs first stepped onto the legendary Ryman Auditorium stage in 1945 as one of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys. His signature three-fingered banjo style would go on to influence countless musicians in the years to come, cementing him as a legend in his own right. In 2007, at the age of 83, Scruggs took the stage again, this time with family and friends who included Rob Ickes (dobro), Randy Scruggs (guitar, vocals), John Jorgenson (mandolin, guitar, clarinet, vocals), Jon Randall (guitar vocals), Gary Scruggs (bass, vocals), Hoot Hester (fiddle, vocals), and John Gardner (drums) to record Ultimate Collection: Live at the Ryman for Rounder Records. Boasting 18 tracks that include perennial favorites like "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," "Lonesome Ruben," "Ballad of Jed Clampett," "Soldier's Joy," "In the Pines," and "Earl's Breakdown," it's not surprising that Scruggs hasn't lost a beat, as he's been tearing through most of these songs for well over 50 years. While 2005's Essential Earl Scruggs remains the best entry point into this bluegrass icon's impressive canon of songs, it would be hard not to want to delve deeper into the man's history after an evening spent with him at the Ryman. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi