New Steve Martin CD

In case you missed it, the New York Times ran an article on Steve Martin's new CD, The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo, in Sunday's edition. The article details Martin's long history with the five, including its recent place in his life:

[S]tarting in 2001 he began a banjo resurgence. That year Earl Scruggs, the bluegrass pioneer, asked him to play on a recording of the song “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” for the album “Earl Scruggs and Friends.” In 2007 he contributed an original composition, “The Crow,” to the Tony Trischka album “Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular.”

That track, on which Mr. Martin and Mr. Trischka performed together, became Mr. Martin’s first hit single since 1978’s “King Tut.” “It made the bluegrass charts,” Mr. Martin said. “I don’t know how much that means. It might have sold two.”

In an article about Tim O'Brien in the latest Acoustic Live -- which as of today is not yet up on the web site, it seems -- Richard Cuccaro recounts bumping into Steve Martin at Tim's recent New York show at the Rubin Museum:

We found our press reserve seats at third row left and settled in. A few minutes later we turned when we heard the voice of banjo master (and Bela Fleck influence) Tony Trischka. He was entering the row behind us and offering his latest CD to someone, admonishing jokingly, “Don’t listen to it here.” Swiveling around a bit more we saw the recipient: actor/comedian/avid, long-time banjo picker Steve Martin. Yes, that Steve Martin. We turned to say hello and offer a copy of Acoustic Live, suggesting (farfetchedly - is that a word?) that we get together for a chat about a feature article (hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained). Steve asked about our on-line availability, then raved about Tim: “This guy is the best!”

That article also contained a great Tim O'Brien line:

“And remember… bluegrass is a whole lot better than it sounds.”

Indeed.