Trish Imbrogno – Bluegrass Love Songs – Volume One EP
This is the debut EP of Pittsburgh, PA-acclaimed bassist Trish Imbrogno (double bass/vocals). It’s an album that introduces ears to her bluegrass endeavor. This is a well-recorded splash into traditional Appalachian-type music. While it’s foreign to many ears in big cities, Trish fills this effort with distinctive banjo picking & fiddle & her bass playing. Her uplifting voice carries each tune with unifying coolness & brings Bill Monroe’s bluegrass tradition into the 21st Century.
“Think of What You’ve Done” is vibrant, with a good melody & despite its rustic, rural, natural flavors, it has a prairie sophistication to it. Why do I say that? Because this song is played by musicians who are skillful & talented. This isn’t some knock-off band that wings it. There’s structure, feeling & sensitivity. Little items people forget when listening to countrified variations. It’s not campy songs or novelty music, not in the hands of a musician like Ms. Imbrogno. These 5 highly polished tracks (Dropped Sept 12/Independent/14:21) on Bluegrass Love Songs – Volume One were produced by Trish with Christopher Henry & recorded in Winchester, VA.
Some tunes are instrumental. Others are like a lullaby. “Don’t This Road Look Rough & Rocky” is an old Flatt & Scruggs tune (remembered for playing the theme to “The Beverly Hillbillies” TV show). Quite talented in their day. The song is melodically captivating & drenched in Americana, mountain music. It’s part of our heritage.
Yes, yes, some of the tunes in this genre do come from Ireland, Scotland & England, a touch of Celtic too. But it’s been Americanized, marinated, dragged through the mud, smoked & hung out to dry. This is why the flavor is familiar but not quite from over the pond. It’s what makes it significantly the music of pioneers. Trish, in a unique musical way, is a pioneer.
“Clinch Mountain Backstep” is an instrumental that goes for the feet before it plants itself in your head. Trish’s voice is at its colorful best on “Bury Me Beneath the Willow,” a traditional tune. She certainly makes the song attractive to modern ears. And it can be educational, if not danceable. This EP’s a good introduction to the dedicated bluegrass art of Trish Imbrogno.
Highlights – “Think of What You’ve Done,” “Don’t This Road Look Rough & Rocky,” “Clinch Mountain Backstep,” & “Bury Me Beneath the Willow.”
Musicians – Trish Rainy Maike (mandolin), Dede Wyland (guitar/vocals), Murphy Henry (banjo/vocals) & Becky Buller (fiddle).
Color image courtesy of Loop Photography. CD @ Amazon & Apple + https://www.trishplaysbass.com/bluegrass-love-songs-volume-one
Song Premiere: https://americanahighways.org/2025/09/08/song-premiere-trish-plays-bass-cherokee-shuffle/