Tony Trischka

Territory (Smithsonian Folkways)

For more than 40 years, Tony Trischka has explored all possibilities of the banjo. On Territory, he brings his search full circle with 21 tracks that not only showcase his mastery of the instrument but also the variety that banjo’s capable of, including (obviously) old-time folk and bluegrass, as well as Celtic reels, West African kora music, and Hawaiian slide. Trischka’s joined by a cavalcade of like-minded travelers including Pete and Mike Seeger, Bill Evans, Bill Keith, and Bruce Molsky, but his own band of relative newcomers also impresses on tunes like the sprite “Fox Chase” and stormy fiddle tune “Salt River.” A banjo-lovers’ delight, this collection features extensive liner notes, including a short history of the instrument, that make it illuminating beyond its often-lighthearted sounds.

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This article appears in April 4 • 2008.

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