Trish Imbrogno —aka Trish Plays Bass— has a reputation one can rely on. A renowned bassist, composer, and performer readily adept at engaging in bluegrass, jazz, and folk traditions, she makes her first solo foray with the expressively titled Bluegrass Love Songs Volume One EP, a concise collection of tracks that demonstrates that skill with absolute agility.
In truth, it’s a collaborative effort made possible courtesy of a list of participants that includes Rainy Miatke on mandolin, Dede Wyland on vocals and guitar, Murphy Henry on banjo and vocals, and fiddle work courtesy of Becky Buller.
With that in mind, it’s little wonder than Imbrogno often chooses to cede the spotlight. Given that her name is on the marquee, it might also be considered a decidedly gracious gesture on her part overall.
As a result, the cohesive combination is flawless overall. The sprightly sound of the opening track, the Carter Stanley standard Think Of What You’ve Done, sets the tone for all that follows. So too, a pair of exceptional instrumentals — the traditional tune Cherokee Shuffle and Ralph Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Backstep — find the entire ensemble in full flight, with bass, guitar, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin all soaring in sync.
That’s not to negate the two remaining tracks, Lester Flatt’s Don’t This Road Look Rough And Rocky, and the sweetly sentimental Appalachian ballad, Bury Me Beneath the Willow, each of which are given a heartfelt read that further illuminates Imbrogno’s penchant for offering an emotive embrace.
Although it’s an abbreviated first foray, the fact that it’s dubbed Volume One offers the promise that there’s more to come. That’s good news, because based on the promise and proficiency exhibited here, any further effort will likely be accompanied by absolute anticipation. For the time being anyhow, Bluegrass Love Songs conveys a heartfelt first feeling.
