I never tire of hearing new versions of the song “Wayfaring Stranger.” A quick spin through my music library finds at least 10 versions by the likes of Eliza Carthy, Emmylou Harris, Neko Case, Jack White, Maria McKee, 16 Horsepower, Jack White, separate versions by jazz guitarists John Scofield and Jim Hall, and two by Giant Sand, one of which pairs it up in a medley with “Fly Me To The Moon.” I’m thrilled to add to the collection the version by Scroggins & Rose on their delightful new EP Speranza.
Scroggins & Rose is an acoustic duo project of mandolinist Tristan Scroggins and fiddler Alisa Rose. Both are multiple award nominees including Grammys and IBMA, and Rose is a U.S. State Department Musical Ambassador. Their music slots right in with a lot of contemprary acoustic stringband music like Hawkwind, Tatiana Hargreaves, Alison DeGroot, Billy Strings, Oliver the Crow, Watchhouse, Bruce Molsky, Goat Rodeo, etc. They are young masters of their instruments, creative composers, and they play with a sharp sensitivity to one another whether swapping leads or improvising.
Speranza is their third album and through it’s short it packs a punch. I haven’t decided yet whether my favorite is that version of “Wayfaring Stranger” or the next track, “Walk Along John to Kansas.” The former is immediately recognizable, of course, but I thought at first that Scroggins was playing a low banjo in his brief solo intro. Turns out he’s playing a mandocello and Rose a baritone (or octave) violin, which together drop the tune down into a deep earthy register that emphasizes its poignancy. It really made me sit up and listen!
The next tune “Walk Along John to Kansas” is a deeply traditional old time fiddle tune, and they play this one pretty straight, not a lot of improvising, just a lot of respect for this joyful romping tune. Its presence emphasizes this duo’s grounding in tradition, which is still a requirement even when much of their repertoir pulls in influences from many other sources. As with many of their contemporaries, Scroggins & Rose seem to enjoy blending lots of genres into their stringband format, including classical, jazz, klezmer, and probably more.
That shows up right off on the opening track “Pandemic Buddy,” a nod to the fact that this album’s genesis came during Covid restrictions. It starts off with a gentle mandolin introduction, but pretty soon it’s barrelling off downhill at a breakneck bluegrass pace, a memorable tune riding atop the snappy rhythm. The evocatively titled “Lasso The Squirrel” is a playful tune of varying tempos and imaginative as well as musical leaps and bounds including some fiery klezmer fiddling from Rose.
As is often the case, things get more experimental as the album progresses. “Space Samba” is an episodic exploration of that Brazilian dance form with some spacy interludes. And the final track “Reaper” finds Rose again on the baritone violin going contemporary classical, and Scroggins slamming out the mandolin equivalent of power chords. This reaper isn’t entirely grim, but it is dark and serious stuff.
It’s a short set at six tracks, but you’re left wanting a little more, which is always better than the opposite. Scroggins & Rose is absolutely an act to keep an eye on.
(Adhyâropa Records, 2025)
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