Elizabeth Cotton & Mike Seeger In Concert; John Renbourn Group In Concert; Norman Blake & The Rising Fawn String Ensemble In Concert; Stefan Grossman In Concert

If you don't buy music videos because your choices are basically limited to the heavy metal headbangers and the simpering sensual singer of the month (i.e. Anthrax and Belinda Carlisle, et al), these four programs offer a pleasant alternative. Filmed at Ohio University during a performance series, each program features a one-hour performance by the artist or group in an informal setting in front of a small group of university students. We're talking acoustical heaven here. Elizabeth Cotton & Mike Seeger in Concert opens with Seeger performing a number of traditional tunes and original compositions on a wide variety of instruments: fiddle, banjo, Jews harp (which, in a funny bit, he teaches viewers to play), dulcimer, guitar, mandolin, and harmonica. Highlights include the haunting ballads "Little Margaret" and "The Dreadful Wind and Rain." After Seeger plays with Elizabeth Cotton (the "grandmother of folk revival"), she plays a few tunes solo, including her hit "Freight Train." John Renbourn Group in Concert features the lovely voice of Jacqui McShee, accompanied by Renbourn and a trio of other musicians, performing traditional tunes and medleys, which range from Renaissance dance music to blues to British folk. Flutes, tablas, bagpipes, dulcimer, and guitar blend melodiously with McShee's vocals. Highlights include: "John Dory" and "My Johnny Was a Shoemaker." Norman Blake & the Rising Fawn Ensemble in Concert features the exceptional flatpicking guitar work of Norman Blake, accompanied by wife Nancy on cello, and James Bryan on fiddle. The superb acoustical offerings include "Ginseng Sullivan," "Randall Collins," and "Crossing Number Nine." Finally, Stefan Grossman in Concert, features the virtuoso blues guitarist (see Bottleneck Blues Guitar and Fingerpicking Guitar Techniques reviewed in this issue) performing a wide variety of tunes ranging from the Celtic instrumental "The Pretty Girl Milking a Cow" to the gutsy blues of "Satisfied and Tickled Too" "Candyman" and "My Creole Belle." Each program contains over a dozen enchanting tunes highlighting some of the best folk and blues artists in the business. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (See BOTTLENECK BLUES GUITAR for availability.)