Shape Of Grass To Come, Vol. 1, The

Bluegrass + free jazz = freegrass? Hold on to your hats: it’s a bluegrass band doing Ornette Coleman tunes! This is an LA-based quartet, and their renditions of three early-career Ornette pieces are recognizable as covers but also veer off in unexpected directions, as one would hope. Impressive, sometimes hilarious, lots of fun, super weird. Jazz, Americana, and experimental DJs alike should check this out. This makes the Punch Brothers look like Kenny G. Noisegrass, dronegrass, and grindgrass can’t be far behind. Only three tracks, so pick the one that looks best to you. No words, no FCCs.

1. (4:40)—Fast, bouncy, spastic, with wild fiddling. Borderline atonal, but also recognizable as bluegrass in a surrealistic way.
2. (7:24)—Super slowed down version of “Lonely Woman.” Draws out the romance for a while, like it could belong in a tasteful European film. Gets some controlled speed, slows again for a pretty and minimal close.
3. (6:35)—Mid-tempo. Jaunty beginning. Nice obliquely tonal fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass soloing.