Grammy Award-winning musician John Reischman has been a foundational mandolinist, composer, bandleader, and musical educator in bluegrass and North American roots and folk music since emerging from the vibrant “new acoustic” bluegrass music scene of the Bay Area in the 1980s. A member of the groundbreaking Tony Rice Unit, Reischman’s mastery of bluegrass, old-time, swing, and multiple Latin American musical styles, coupled with an Old Master’s sense of tone, taste, and musicality, has brought him a global reputation as one of the finest mandolinists of his era.

Concerto Commission 2024

Tasked with reinterpreting the classical form of concerto, Cynthia Sayer, John Reischman & The Jaybirds, and Béla Fleck presented the audience with new compositions in the concerto style. Premiered on September 20, 2024 at FreshGrass Festival North Adams.

“When I was asked by FreshGrass to write something I immediately had ideas and concepts that came to mind. I’ve always loved the lonesome, minor key, Bluegrass waltzes written by Bill Monroe and others. I find these types of melodies to be quite haunting and beautiful, and hoped to achieve that myself. Including something with two mandolins in harmony is also something I also thought of, sort of reminiscent of some of David Grisman’s work. Maybe subconsciously I was thinking of Vivaldi’s concerto for two mandolins, which is the concerto I’m most familiar with. I followed the standard three movement concerto format- fast, slow, fast. The first movement features Mandolin, Banjo, Guitar, Acoustic Bass, and Twin Fiddles. The second and third movements of this ensemble will be joined by a second mandolin. The whole piece is about fifteen minutes long.” - John Reischman

Photo by Trent Freeman