“David Bromberg Quartet Live New York City 1982″ (Appleseed Recordings)

David Bromberg had slipped through my memory like a cookie crumb that found its way on an oak-plank floor. In the Seventies, I owned and thoroughly enjoyed a handful of his unique LPs that were a blend of just about any musical form you could reasonably blend.

But Bromberg, like a lot of the artists from three decades ago, hasn’t hung up his guitar, his fiddle, his mandolin, his Dobro and whatever else he plays. And, it should be noted, he plays them all pretty darn well.

So, I was thrilled and took a trip down memory lane when this “newly remastered archival recording” called “The David Bromberg Quartet; Live New York City 1982” came my way. I tried my best to conjure up some of my old favorite Bromberg material from my old vinyl albums, but the memory bank didn’t cooperate well. All I could remember was the guy was a lightning fast flat picker who could sing blues and bluegrass well, almost all in the same breath.

That’s what “Live New York City 1982” is all about — the two aforementioned genres. It opens with a 10-minute-plus medley that starts with the bluegrass classic, “Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down,” and then takes off with a medley of fiddle tunes. It just goes on and on and on — but never bores. One gets the idea right off the bat that this Bromberg kid — born in Philadelphia and raised in the Big Apple — is one hot country picker. Sizzlin’ hot, in fact.

The kickoff medley also lets the listener immediately know the remainder of the quartet is also able to hold their own with the band leader. Bromberg’s quartet at the time included Robert “Butch” Amiot on bass (who still performs with Bromberg;) Jeff Wisor on fiddle and mandolin (and also still with Bromberg) and Gene Johnson, mandolin and fiddle who is a founding member of the commercial country band, Diamond Rio.

Showing Bromberg’s affection for hot fiddle tunes, the CD also includes another, much shorter medley of Sally Gooden, Old Joe Clark and Wheel Hoss.

David Bromberg. Photo by Steve Sandick.

There’s a waltz by Bob Dylan, “Wallflower;” a rousing version of “Working on a Building,” (which was the encore of the particular live performance), the old country classic, “Last Date,” and a couple of country blues numbers.

Those unfamiliar with Bromberg might bristle a bit at their first introduction to his voice. It has a New Yawwk City essence, for sure, and it’s a bit removed from the Monroe doctrine of high lonesome. On the other hand, Bromberg’s band dishes up some outstanding, very traditional high-lonesome harmonies on this CD. And Bromberg, himself, can sing sweet as can be when the occasion calls for it.

After I started listening to this guy in the Seventies, I thought he was pretty cool. Here’s a New Yorker who’s bringing this traditional bluegrass stuff to a pretty hip crowd — and he’s got them eating right out of his hand.

The release of this 1982 recording didn’t change that old opinion one bit.

A caveat: To the best of my knowledge, this was a professional recording but some sound glitches exist. And no effort was made to fix anything in the mix — not that much needed fixing.

On www.davidbromberg.net, it’s noted that this CD is the first in a series of “Official Live Recordings” from Bromberg’s personal collection. We’re ready for more.

And on that, a footnote: Bromberg is already sold out of his current stock of the new CD. More should be available in the near future, according to the Web site.

Editor’s Note: According to Appleseed Recording’s own Alan Edwards,”David’s website no longer sells the original version of “Live NYC ‘82,” but our remastered version is available through our website, www.AppleseedMusic.com, in all of the major online CD stores, and in the dwindling number of actual CD stores around the country and overseas.”