Biography

“Tony Trischka is known as the father of modern bluegrass” – NY Times.


Tony Trischka is considered the consummate banjo artist and one of the most influential banjo players in the roots music world. For over 50 years, his stylings have inspired a whole generation of bluegrass and acoustic musicians with the many voices he has brought to the instrument. His inspiration?
Profoundly and without a doubt, the genius of Earl Scruggs.


Last year, Trischka was given over 200 extremely rare recordings of jam sessions featuring Scruggs and John Hartford. He’s transcribed many of Scruggs' note-for-note solos from these jams, most of which are on songs Earl had never recorded. Trischka explains, “the depth of Earl’s genius becomes ever more apparent when I transcribe his solos, which I’ve been doing my entire life and with renewed vigor. Discovering new twists and turns in his playing is pure joy and, of course, the inspiration for this project."


An album of this music is now in production with a new label, Down the Road, formed by the founders of Rounder Records.


Expanding on the smaller scale jams, Tony has put together full band recordings, featuring such artists as Billy Strings, Bela Fleck, Molly Tuttle, Sam Bush, Michael Cleveland, Del McCoury, Alison Krauss,
Vince Gill, Jerry Douglas, Michael Daves, Bruce Molsky, and a host of others.


"Because Earl’s playing on these jams may never see the light of day, I figured that at least if I record his solos verbatim, as he played them, other’s will get to hear what he did…..the ways he extended his vocabulary, the new vistas of syncopation.


These recordings, for me anyway, were like a discovery for the ages, sort of like the unearthing of
King Tut’s tomb. I just had to share these tunes with musicians who would really get it and would allow listeners to experience Earl as never before.


He’s always been my North Star, a lifetime pathway, and I’m thrilled that it will be released just in time to celebrate his centennial birth year, 2024.”


This album is Trischka's first bluegrass project since his Grammy nominated and IBMA award winning Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular.