I just got word that a true musical giant, Vassar Clements, has passed away.  Vassar was a wonderfully unique player whose thorough joy came out in his music.  He melded country and jazz to create a sound that was unmistakably his own.  For those who are bluegrass-challenged,  you might know Vassar as the fiddle player in Old & in the Way.  Others in that band included Peter Rowan on guitar, the late John Kahn on bass, the great David Grisman on mandolin, and, of course, the late and great Jerry Garcia on banjo.  I'll be playing a tune for Vassar tonight, and I will inhale.  Geez, most of Old & in the Way has passed on - at least deadheads don't get old, we just become Jerryatric.
 
Bill

Amen on Vassar and his legacy.

Here is the story on CNN.

That's a real shame. Well at least Jerry will have another buddy to hang with and shoot the sh*t tonight. Godspeed, VC.

Vassar was an amazing fiddler. He will be missed.

NPR, at least my affiliate, WKMS 91.3 Murray State University, Murray, Ky., is airing a special on Vassar today.

Playing with a lot of fiddlers over the years, Vassar always stood out for his almost feline tone, and he stood a great middle ground in that you could hear the bluegrass, the mad gypsy Grapelli jazz, even some Johnny Gimbel and Frenchie Burke at times.  
 
My favorite sides were from Dicky Betts' country album Highway Call, from the late 70s.  Recorded with the Rambos, Hal Rugg on pedal steel, and produced by Johnny Sandlin, it was my favorite setting for him.  
 
He was like a lot of the great players:  His style just worked in ANY setting.
 
J o e y