With a voice (and hair) as big as the country music he brought from Mississippi to the shores of Mt Hope Bay, Marty Stuart enlivened the Narrows stage with a living and loving history of the long thread of Americana that draws from and bridges gospel, blues, folk, and hillbilly. With only two (outstanding) accompanists, Stuart’s country is elementally spare. Masterful on the mandolin, and a storyteller with under the big top showmanship, Stuart made “country” immediate and meaningful, reminding us that the music of mortal souls mirrors the human experience: it can be both profane and sacred.

Waves of shimmering notes crashed the Narrows stage in unbroken sets, save only for occasional quiet and beautiful eye of the storm interludes.  Eric Johnson Mike Stern and their indomitable bass and drum section rocked and jazzed up the full Narrows house Tuesday night. Beauty and raw power charged  from the stage with lightning fast arpeggios punctuated by wailing climaxes- it was the Mahavishnu Orchestra with Jimi Hendrix sitting in and John Schofield serving an occasional reminder to slow down and deliver an occasional sweet desert rose. A performance for the ages.