Bluegrass mandolinist Danny Roberts releases “The Drifter”

Renowned bluegrass mandolinist Danny Roberts has released a new single, “The Drifter,” through Mountain Home Music Company. This original composition highlights Roberts' diverse musical influences beyond his established role in The Grascals. The song is notable for its languid beginning, unique chord structure, and fluid solos.

Roberts explained that “The Drifter” was a tribute to his favorite mandolin player, David Grisman, and wanted to capture the essence of Grisman’s style. He also mentioned that the title of the song was a tribute to his late brother-in-law, Mike Mullins, who wrote a book called The Vagabond.

The track features banjo, fiddle and guitar solos that blend seamlessly with Roberts' mandolin, culminating in a powerful finale. While the melody and rhythm clearly show influences from Grisman's “dawg music” style, “The Drifter” puts Roberts' originality and the skills of his accompanists at the center.

Roberts expressed how much joy he had recording the piece, highlighting the contributions of his wife Andrea on bass, as well as Tony Wray on banjo and guitar and Jimmy Mattingly on fiddle, noting the exceptional quality of the musicians and their ability to bring his vision to life.