David Grisman

Grisman started redefining bluegrass in the '60s and never looked back. By the time the David Grisman Quintet's debut album came out in 1977, the master mandolinist had cooked up a heady fusion of bluegrass, jazz and classical, shot through with a hippie's love for endless gymnastic jamming. The Quintet isn't all aggro like New Grass Revival, but heavies like guitarist Tony Rice and banjo player Tony Trischka are no joke when their fingers start dancing all over those frets.