New releases: Sept. 6, 2005

Since I seem to be stuck in a rut (not all ruts are bad) of spotlighting compilation albums, I'll just roll right with it.

There's a new one out Tuesday called "Tone Poets," on David Grisman's Acoustic Disc label. I haven't heard any of the tracks on the CD, so I can't speak to its content. But you gotta like the idea: Master musicians are assembled, given two vintage instruments, the same microphones and recording equipment, and are told to go to town. The result is two discs (one of solos and the other instrumental duets), 42 songs, and an exploration of "the unique relationship between musician and instrument," according to Acoustic Disc's Web site. The artists play a 1922 Gibson F-5 mandolin and/or a 1933 Martin OM-45 guitar. Subjects in this little experiment include Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, John Jorgenson, Mike Marshall, Ronnie & Del McCoury, Tony Rice, Bryan Sutton, Tim O'Brien, Grisman, and my secret lover Chris Thile.

Sound interesting? I think so, too. We'll find out Tuesday ...

New releases of note for Sept. 6:

various artists -- Tone Poets (Acoustic Disc)
The Pearsall Sisters -- Home to You (Dualtone)
Joan Baez -- Bowery Songs (Koch)
North Mississippi Allstars -- Electric Blue Watermelon (ATO)
Kate Campbell -- Blues and Lamentations (Large River Music)
James McMurtry -- Childish Things (Compadre)
The Rolling Stones -- A Bigger Bang (Virgin)