Make no mistake, Jerry Douglas is the world’s most celebrated Dobro player, with 14 Grammys on his shelf, another 18 nominations on top of those and session credits on an astounding 2,000-plus performances by others. He’s also been a member of Alison Krauss’ Union Station band for more than 25 years and has been honored by the Country Music Association, the International Bluegrass Music Association and the National Endowment for the Arts. In other words, he’s an American treasure. Douglas has also released more than a dozen solo albums, a couple of which have topped the Billboard bluegrass chart, but it’s been seven years since the last one, so The Set is especially welcome. For the occasion, Douglas is joined by a trio of superb players—Daniel Kimbro (bass, vocals), Christian Sedelmyer (violin, vocals) and Mike Seal (guitars, Wurlitzer and more)—on a self-produced 11-song set populated by Douglas originals, a few tunes penned by other band members and a couple of choice covers. Among the latter is the first single culled from the album, George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Douglas’ take is appropriately gentle, that is, until Seal and Sedelmyer arrive mid-song with alternatingly blistering and tender lead guitar and violin solos that give it a whole other texture. Another cover, Louisiana R&B singer Chris Kenner’s early—‘60s tune “Something You Got,” is one of two vocal numbers on the record—Douglas smooths out the funk and takes it for a spin down on the bayou. Throughout, of course, there’s some of the best Dobro playing you’ll ever hear—that is until the next time you give Douglas a listen.
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