“Down in the Swamp” was written by Bela Fleck, the banjo player, for his 1988 album “Drive.” The record came at the close of Fleck’s years with New Grass Revival and before he formed the Flecktones, and it gathered an all-star cast of bluegrass players.
A piece of progressive bluegrass instrumental writing, the tune is built for an ensemble of virtuosos — the “Drive” sessions featured Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, Mark O’Connor, and Jerry Douglas. It is a composed showcase rather than a traditional tune.
The tune reflects the high-powered, forward-looking bluegrass of the late 1980s.
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