What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow carries a time-shifting pull, placing traditional bluegrass back in the hands of the African American musicians who helped shape it, even when the historical record gave them less credit than they merited.

Giddens and Robinson approach that lineage with focus and care. The recording’s character comes from its setting: tracked outdoors, with birdsong, light conversation, and the small domestic sounds of the space sitting plainly between tunes.

That decision supports the album’s broader aim, which is to present bluegrass as a living practice rather than a museum piece. Familiar titles land with immediate memorability, including ‘Rain Crow’, ‘John Henry’ and ‘Hook and Line’, alongside other staples from the American bluegrass canon. The performances stay direct, letting melody, phrasing, and the pull of the stories carry the material.

There’s a consistency of care in how the parts are layered, giving both the lead vocal lines and the instrumental conversations room to breathe. Each piece feels considered in terms of how it might have sounded in its original social setting, with tradition treated as something to hold and continue, not to polish into display. Across the record, Giddens and Robinson balance individuality with shared purpose, pointing back to essential strands of African American bluegrass. The result feels grounded and present, with the music’s history audible in the way it is played.

Released on 18 April 2025 via Nonesuch Records
you can listen to and order your copy of the album HERE