Customer Reviews
Great Bluegrass History 
2008-09-29
This is a really great history of the Bluegrass genre of music. Plenty of music and narration by Bill Monroe himself. Recommended viewing for anyone interested in bluegrass.
The Glorious History of Bluegrass! 2008-03-03
With a family heritage that includes some of the early English and Scotch-Irish settlers in the Blue Ridge Mountains this doc creates a special feeling for me. I feel transported back to an earlier time where I can better understand the lives of my grandparents and those that came before them.
This is partly due to the outstanding archival filmage which traces the history of bluegrass admidst a cultural backdrop of family farms, railroads and coal mines. The most attention is correctly given to the great Bill Monroe. He recites the words to his songs and visits the old family home while also discussing the musical influence of his Uncle Pen and his childhood years in rural Kentucky. Of course, many other oustanding bluegrass performers are also featured, including Ralph Stanley, Jimmy Martin and Mac Wiseman. The doc also features some more recent concert footage with contemporary bluegrass artists such as Allison Krauss and Seldom Scene.
Whether you are a newcomer who wants to learn more about bluegrass or a longtime fan seeking to enjoy the music and interviews from some of the all-time greats, this is an outstanding film and comes highly recommended.
A Certified Classic ... What There Is of It 2008-02-17
The absolute euphoria I felt when I was bitten by the bluegrass bug was tempered with sadness. As I learned more about the music, I discovered that many of my new heroes -- Bill Monroe, John Duffey, Jimmy Martin, Kenny Baker, and Jim McReynolds, to name a few -- had recently passed on. Sonny Osborne had retired fron the stage, and Ralph Stanley had quit playing the banjo. Thank God for "High Lonesome", which immortalizes selected performances of these bluegrass titans on film, while providing heartfelt personal reflections, unflinching historical context and exceptionally apt musical examples. The historical sweep is epic, the music prodigious (There must be between 50 and 75 songs, divided between live performances and background music, here). There are dozens of little moments that will break your heart -- Jimmy Martin's consummate showmanship, even playing for a camera crew in his den; the rapturous looks on the faces of Sam Bush and David Grisman in the presence of their hero, Bill Monroe; the Osborne Brothers' infectious humor, offset by their sober recollections of the Bluegrass Depression; the Seldom Scene's easy camaraderie and brilliant musicianship; The Nashville Bluegrass Band's new-kid exuberance. The only problem with "High Lonesome" is that it's far too short to fully explore this greatest of American art forms. Director Rachel LIebling poured her heart into this project, and had to scramble for funding. If she'd been a big-name Hollywood director, then "High Lonesome" would have been the multi-part mini-series that bluegrass music truly deserves.
High and Lonesome review 2007-10-31
This is a gem. For those not aquainted with Bluegrass music, and those reaquainting with the genre. Some great footage of Bill Monroe around the old homestead, reminiscing. You get a sense of his experience. He comments about having many banjo and fiddle players, but only one mandolin player, in his band...with a little twinkle. Classic Jimmy Martin takes, he's such a buffoon. Great music.
King of Bluegrass still reigns! 2007-05-07
I'll admit that Jimmy Martin was a very crude, and sometimes obnoxious entertainer. However he left his mark on hundreds of tunes. There is no doubt it's Jimmy when you hear "Freeborn Man" or "Tennesee". He put together some of the best in Bluegrass Bands. Many of his band members moved on into prominent positions of their own.
This DVD will give you a glimpse of Jimmy's lifestyle. Beware of the Coon hunting scene, it's not for the faint of heart, or children.
As Jimmy would often say, "Git It, Git It, Git It!" This is a must have for those who appreciated "Jimmy"
universal appeal 2007-03-01
"The story of bluegrass is the story of Bill Monroe's musical legacy." So begins this superb 1991 documentary, which frames its historical survey around Monroe, the father of Kentucky bluegrass. As Monroe visits his old Kentucky home, now dilapidated and full of memories, the film traces the emergence of bluegrass from Appalachian descendants of Scotch-Irish settlers, and a variety of bluegrass greats (including narrator Mac Wiseman) offer informative anecdotes, accompanied by evocative archival footage and concert performances from the bluegrass festival circuit. Monroe's dominance is duly acknowledged, but ample time is devoted to his contemporaries and successors, including the fast-pickin' duo of Flat & Scruggs, the Osborne Brothers, Jimmy Martin, and finally Alison Krauss, who passionately defends the music's acoustic purity. The rise, fall, and consistent revival of bluegrass is thus chronicled through oral history and visual record, resulting in a priceless film that even casual fans are sure to enjoy.
--Jeff Shannon
High Lonesome 2007-01-05
High Lonesome is a very good review of the history of BlueGrass.
Very enjoyable
Bluegrass Rule's 2006-11-12
Fantastic performances and archive footage . The feel of why Bluegrass captures its enthusites is fully realized in this documenary !
a beautiful portrait of bluegrass music 2006-11-11
The people who said this isn't a good history of bluegrass have a point; as a history, it's idiosyncratic and incomplete. On the other hand, as a portrait of the music and some of its creators it's unforgettable. I must have watched this movie 15 times over the past ten or eleven years, and it can still bring tears to my eyes.
Great Imagery of America 
2006-03-02
As some of the others have said (or over-stated), it may not be the best Bluegrass documentary out there....but it is really good, especially for novices.
However, the best part of the DVD is the imagery and film footage. If you get nothing else, its an amazing visual history lesson of the tmes.
