The David Grisman Quintet (1977)

This groundbreaking debut album invented 'Dawg' music: an invigorating fusion of bluegrass drive, gypsy swing and modern jazz harmonies. With Tony Rice on flatpicked acoustic guitar, Darol Anger on violin, Todd Phillips on second mandolin and Joe Carroll on bass, the ensemble operates like an acoustic chamber orchestra. Complex polyphonic lines and swing chords replace standard fiddle tunes, yet the percussive pulse remains unmistakably rooted in bluegrass rhythm. It proved that string bands could conquer sophisticated instrumental jazz.