JULY/AUGUST 2011 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM SPOTLIGHT Scott Simontacchi SARAH JAROSZ Stretching bluegrass boundaries—and shrugging off the ‘child prodigy’ tag Sarah JaroSz iS enJoying With her time divided between touring a moment of rare respite in the midst of and studies at Boston’s new england an extensive summer tour. “it’s been pretty Conservatory of Music, Jarosz concedes that rigorous, but it’s been good,” says the Texas finding opportunities to write new material native with a sigh. The fresh-faced 20-year-old has been a challenge—and has accordingly is clearly more than up to the demands of seen fit to express herself through an eclectic the road—but as evidenced on Follow Me choice of covers. Follow Me Down finds Down, her new sophomore album, Jarosz’s her tackling Bob Dylan’s “ring Them Bells” JULY/AUGUST 2011 abilities on guitar, banjo, piano, mandolin and radiohead’s “The Tourist,” the latter of and vocals belie her years. Touted as a which evolved out of an impromptu jam with M MUSIC & MUSICIANS child prodigy since her early teens, Jarosz Punch Brothers mandolinist Chris Thile. MAGAZINE shrugs off the label. “i don’t know if i am “i feel lucky to have grown up listening to or not,” she says. “i think it had more to different styles and not being closed off to any do with being surrounded by so many of particular genre,” she says. my heroes and being able to learn from Jarosz has come a long way since them at an early age.” her breakthrough performance at the 2007 indeed, Jarosz’s grammy-nominated Telluride Bluegrass Festival. it was there 2009 debut Song Up in Her Head featured she met Sugar hill records a&r man gary a veritable who’s who of the bluegrass world. Paczosa, who signed her to the label and has Though she is quick to note, “i don’t consider co-produced both her albums. “We had a the songs i write bluegrass, necessarily. i good dynamic in the studio, and i was given started in that world and love it, but i’ve the freedom to bring my ideas to the table,” always looked up to those who pay tribute to she recalls. “i had such a sense that he was their roots while still pushing the boundaries.” open to anything.” Since then her musical Follow Me Down expands her musical world palette has expanded right along with her further with guest appearances by Punch career. “it all evolved very naturally,” she says. Brothers, Shawn Colvin, Béla Fleck and “it makes me think i’m where i should be.” Jerry Douglas, among others. –Lee Zimmerman 19 M mag 13.indd 19 8/30/11 8:50:51 PM.