David Holt's State of Music

The banjo is often the butt of jokes, but this musical instrument of African origin can be a revelation of rhythm and soul in the hands of masters such as David Holt and Béla Fleck. Holt (who also performed with the legendary Doc Watson) plays what he calls “mountain music,” which is also known as roots, folk, old-timey, and bluegrass. Inspired by a mid-1960s performance from the great Ralph Stanley, who told Holt to go to the Blue Ridge Mountains for more, the latter settled in Ashville, NC, where he was able to meet and play with musicians from the last century—ultimately becoming one of the champions of this traditional form of American music. Filmmaker Deni McIntyre's documentary explores the healthy modern traditional music scene, while also offering relevant historical insights (such as the significant influence of Sears & Roebuck Co., which distributed a new, low-cost instrument called a guitar in the early 1900s), and serving up a few practical tips for playing (related to developing the motor skills and endurance needed to play lightning-fast bluegrass licks). Best of all, the film is chockfull of excellent performances in the studio and live with artists including Balsam Range, The Branchettes, Rhiannon Giddens, Josh Goforth, Bruce Molsky, and Bryan Sutton. Extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette, bonus interview footage with Sutton, and additional performances. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (C. Block)