Audio version on YouTube @fretdreamer :
In May 1976, a circumstantial band named “The Bluegrass Quintet” turned in Japan, with a lineup between Muleskiner and these two Rounder albums. the member are: David Grisman [mandolin, vocals], Tony Rice [guitare, lead vocals], Bill Keith [banjo vocals], Richard Greene [fiddle] and Todd Phillips [bass].
A Live Album from this tour includes Caravan and a new tune by Bill Keith named: Beating Around The Bush. It includes also Opus 57, from Muleskinner and soon to be covered by the D. G. Quintet (1977).
In the summer of 1977, the same concept band toured Europe with more members of the D. G. quintet, including Darol Anger on fiddle in place of Richard Greene.
Between 1975 and 1978, Bill Keith toured Europe extensively, gaining a strong reputation in France. At the beginning, Bill is accompanied by Jim Rooney.
In France, Bill & Jim recorded 4 tracks on the album “Banjo Paris Session vol.2”. Other partners are Pierre Bensusan on Mandolin, Phil Richardson on fiddle, and Hervé de Sainte Foy on bass.
In Switzerland, Radio Télévision Suisse Romande recorded their concert at the Festival d’Epalinges (near Lausanne) and two tracks were included by Pierre Bensusan in his Live album “Encore”.
In 1976, Bill also accompanied guitarist Marcel Dadi at the Olympia. Dadi dedicated a song to Bill, recorded in Nashville in 1976: “Billy The Keith”
Later, in 1977, Bill Keith recorded in the U.S.A. with Bill Clifton, and Company. In addition to Bill Keith on banjo, this backing band included among others Red Rector [mandolin & vocals], Mike Auldridge [dobro], and Tom Gray [bass].
In 1977, Bill Keith joined forces with singer Jim Collier and French mandolinist Christian Seguret.
They were joined later by Kenny Kosek on fiddle and Lionel Wendling on bass.
An album was recorded in France by Hexagone, released in 1978.
The Bill Keith & Jim Collier album contains 6 tracks sung by Jim Collier. Three of them are written by him: “I Think About You All The Time“‘, “There’ll Come A Day“, “Two Twenties“; two are country standards: “Smoke, Some Smoke” (Travis, Williams) & “Texas Cowboy” (Hank Snow) the last one is a couple of traditional songs arranged by Bill Keith & Jim Collier (“Height of January” and “The Twelth of Never“).
There are 5 instrumentals: one adapted from a Bach bourrée (banjo accompanied by guitar and bass), 4 composed by Bill Keith: “Phlebitis” and “Would You Believe It” appear only on this album, while two other tunes will be included on Bill’s next album (“Beating Around the Bush” and “Crab Waltz“).
Other records sessions include instrumentals such as:
“My Love Is But A Lassie Yet”, an old 17th-century country dance (quadrille) imported to the U.S. from Scotland and Northumbria in the 19th century (in: Woodstock Mountains: More Music From Mud Acres, Rounder – 3018, 1977)
Dizzy Gillespie’s “Night In Tunisia“, with Alan Munde on 2nd banjo, Joe Carr on mandolin and Sam Bush on fiddle, in Slim Richey’s Jazz Grass album (Ridge Runner – 09, 1977)
Christian Seguret’s “Hot Mandolin N°17“; in Paris Banjo session vol. 2 and in Christian Seguret’s album: “Old Fashioned Love” (Cezame 1035, 1977).
“Steel Banjo Rag” in Jean-Marie Redon’s album “banjoistiquement votre” (Cezame 1049, 1979)
In 1978, Bill plays on 6 of the 10 tracks of the Woodstock Mountains Revue’s Pretty Lucky Album (Rounder Records – 3025)
Some of these tracks were later included in the compilation: Music From The Mud Acres (Rounder Canada, CD 11520, 1987)
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