Finland’s Jussi Syren & the Groundbreakers have released a music video ahead of their upcoming album, Bluegrass Singer. In keeping with their devotion to the traditional bluegrass style, The Banjo Song is a tribute to five of the most distinctive five stringers our music has ever known.
After each verse, where Jussi sings their praises one by one, Groundbreakers banjo man Tauri Oksala lay down an solid impression of each banjo picker in turn. You’ll hear Randy Lynn Rag from Earl Scruggs, Banjo Signal from Don Reno, Black Jack for J.D. Crowe, Whoa Mule for Raymond Fairchild, and Fling Ding for Ralph Stanley. Tauri’s Keith tuners also get a workout on this one.
Jussi even includes an admonition to those who might be tempted to “water down the bluegrass” by leaving out the banjo.
We’ll certainly be on the lookout for Bluegrass Singer later this year.
