Various Artists

Mandolin,the sweet, high voice that gives bluegrass that special flavor, is the focus of Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza (ACD-35), an extraordinary double CD from Acoustic Disc. Produced by Ronnie McCoury and David Grisman, this newly-recorded collection features eight of today's greatest pickers in solo, duet, trio and octet settings, accompanied by Del McCoury on guitar.

This 34-track set of over 100 minutes of music includes traditional tunes like 'Wayfaring Stranger' (Sam Bush) and 'Cumberland Gap' along with such Bill Monroe classics as 'Blue Moon of Kentucky' and 'Bluegrass Special' (Ricky Skaggs). Originals like Jesse McReynolds' 'Dixie Hoedown,' Bobby Osborne's 'Cherokee Lady,' Frank Wakefield's 'Catnip' and Buck White's 'Down Home Waltz,' as well as 'B Natural,' a Grisman/McCoury tribute to the father of bluegrass music, round out this once-in-a-lifetime recording event.