It’s been 30 years since snowy-haired comedian Steve Martin broke into the record industry with his hot-selling vinyl release Let’s Get Small. A lot has changed over the years, but Martin, who turns 64 next month, remains the consummate entertainer. His first album devoted entirely to the banjo (though 1981’s The Steve Martin Brothers was half banjo, half comedy), The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo is an instrumental delight focusing purely on the essence of American folk music. From traditional bluegrass toe-tappers like “Daddy Played the Banjo” to barn dance fare such as “Pretty Flowers,” the entire album is steeped in Americana.
Martin voices the humorous tale “Late for School” to rambling banjo chords that run as free as a babbling Appalachian brook. Impressively, 15 of the 16 tracks are Martin originals, penned over decades of picking at his banjo in his spare time. Although the sparkling instrumental tracks like “Pitkin County Turnaround” and “Tin Roof” contain the CD’s brightest moments, quick-pickin’ Martin doesn’t seem completely confident of his abilities, bringing in ringers like Dolly Parton, Vince Gill and Earl Scruggs to ensure the success of his first musical outing.
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