Down to the Wire: (The Stringband Tribute to the Music of John Mayer)

Getting into the groove with John Mayer, I tend to experience shades of Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar, sultry R&B phrasings, and his signature relaxed, even languid, vibe.

In buoyant contrast, the "Grassing-Up" of John Mayer via Adam Galblum's "Down to the Wire: (The Stringband Tribute to the Music of John Mayer)" is full of ecstatic energy; a rich Roots recording.

Galblum, a classically trained multi-instrumentalist with forays into Folk, Jazz, Bluegrass, and Americana, came up with the idea to reinterpret Mayer's repertoire after listening to a summer '13 Mayer bootleg, and subsequently having a series of dreams where his subconscious immediately began to work out arrangements for songs that inspired him.

His first solo album, Galblum played all the guitar, mandolin, and violin parts, then hired some seasoned touring musicians to round out the Stringband: Andy Hall of Infamous Stringdusters (dobro), Chris Pandolfi, founding member of Infamous Stringdusters (banjo), and Greg Garrison of Leftover Salmon and Punchbrothers (upright bass).

A few standout tunes:

1. Gravity: The mandolin solo is stellar, wistfully evocative of "Mandolin Wind" and "Maggie May" on Rod Stewart's roots-rock album: Every Picture Tells a Story. Galblum's soulful phrasing plays off Mayer's melody fluidly.

2. Who You Love: stands out immediately due to the "Touch of Grey"/Grateful Dead undertones, like subliminal whispers from the ghosts of Grisman and Garcia.

3. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room:
the Americana arrangement stayed true to Mayer's original vibe as Curtis Mayfield's soulful "People Get Ready" comes to mind.

4. Stitched Up: has layers of ornate bluegrass stylings, a fuller sound, and a departure from the vast space held within Mayer's rendition.

Buoyant, Imaginative, Masterful musicianship.

Well done, Adam!
This was fun.