Church Street Blues

Tony Rice, 1983, from Church Street Blues. Solo by Tony Rice.

Rice's crosspicked breaks on Norman Blake's song became a model for solo-guitar bluegrass.

Church Street Blues is Tony Rice's take on a Norman Blake song, and his crosspicked guitar breaks became a model for solo-guitar bluegrass. Rice sings and plays, and his guitar parts combine melody and rhythm in a way that makes the song feel complete without a full band. His crosspicking, rolling through strings in a repeating pattern, creates a shimmering, banjo-like texture. The tone is warm and powerful, with remarkable clarity. The album remains a favorite among acoustic guitarists. Listen for the way the crosspicked breaks combine melody and harmony, and for Rice's relaxed, confident timing, which makes intricate patterns sound natural and easy.

Church Street Blues by Tony Rice is featured in our Bluegrass (#4) list. The solo is played by Tony Rice and the song was released in 1983.

In our lists

• Beyond the Canon — #27
• The 20 Greatest Bluegrass Guitar Solos — #4
• The Best Tony Rice Guitar Solos — #1

Sources