Erik Friedlander: Bonebridge

If you have been following Erik Friedlander lately, you will have noticed how he’s been getting in touch with his roots. In this case, the word “roots” is close to the word’s intended meaning when people talk about roots music and Americana. If 2007’s Block Ice & Propane was Friedlander taking a trip down memory lane — along with every major American highway — in his parents’ camper every summer, Bonebridge highlights one of the stops along the way: the 1971 Galax Fiddler’s Festival in Galax, Virginia. Between the light grit of Doug Wamble’s slide guitar and Friedlander’s utilization of his fretless instrument (he’s been emphasizing the pizzicato thing lately), you can almost see the dust rise from a rural parking lot in the dead of summer. Trevor Dunn and Mike Sarin make up the rhythm section, promising for the tight, cerebral twang one is accustomed to hearing on some of Bill Frisell’s albums. Recommended for anyone looking to bridge their jazz and Americana tastes.