Jerusalem Ridge video from the O’Connors

Mark and Maggie O’Connor have released a second video from their upcoming Duo CD, Mark’s arrangement of the classic Bill Monroe tune, Jerusalem Ridge.

This is one that bluegrass fans know well, though Mark refers to it in his notes as Jerusalem’s Ridge.

Duo - Mark & Maggie O'ConnorJerusalem’s Ridge is a bluegrass fiddle tune made popular by legendary fiddler and Kentucky native Kenny Baker. Kenny co-wrote the tune with Bill Monroe in 1970 as a member of Bill’s legendary Blue Grass Boys. I had the great fortune of recording a duet version of Jerusalem’s Ridge with Kenny himself for my album Heroes (1992). The arrangement of the tune for this duo is similar, except I expand the role of the 2nd violin by giving it plenty of chops. I also introduce a section that features a 20- to 30-second canon on two parts of the melody. The result is an exciting, adventurous duet that exhibits some of the energy and rhythm of a full-band rendition of the tune.”

Like their earlier video from the Duo CD, F.C.’s Jig, this one was shot by Mark’s son Forrest with assistance from Jim Shirey.

 

Look for Duo, an entire album of fiddle/violin duets, on August 5.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.