Diversity is the key word in describing the fine finalists for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2008 Instrumental Album of the Year.

Here are thumbnail sketches of those finalists:

Live At The Linda, David Grier (artist & producer), Dreadnought Records

As the title strongly suggests, this is a live one, folks, recorded as a solo effort in front of a small group of listeners. Cuts range from the traditional — “Red Haired Boy” and “Randy Lynn Rag” — to non-traditional tunes that flatpicker monster Grier obviously loves to perform, including the Roberta Flack pop classic”Killing Me Softly,” to a medley of “America the Beautiful” with the Beatles’ “Yesterday.”

Sound of the Slide Guitar, Andy Hall (artist & producer), Sugar Hill Records

Andy Hall’s regular gig is playing dobro with The Infamous Stringdusters, and he is touring extensivley wth the group. But this, his second solo CD, is catching a lot of the right kind of attention from fans, peers and critics. The CD knows no genre bounds with tracks featuring some of Hall’s original bluegrass and new acoustic music, a song by Boston writer Mark Simos and the Norman Blake classic “Green Light On the Southern”.

Stepping Out, Jason Davis (artist), Jason Davis & Greg Luck (producers), Pinecastle Records

Jason Davis plays banjo with Grasstowne, but the 20-something picker’s resume already includes membership in other top bands. Stepping Out showcases his diverse banjo styles on instrumentals and on several vocal numbers with a stellar group of guest singers, including Russell Moore, Steve Gulley and Junior Sisk.

The Past Is Present, Jason Barie (artist & producer), Pinecastle Records

Young fiddler Jason Barie, now doing a stint with the Larry Stephenson Band, also plays mandolin and guitar on this CD. He wrote 10 of the CD’s tracks, including eight instrumentals. Joining him on this acclaimed album are Steve Dilling, IIIrd Tyme Out’s banjo picker, and vocalists Jaime Crain, David Guthrie and Timmy Massey

When At Last, Russ Barenberg (artist & producer), Compass Records

Russ Barenberg, a guitarist’s guitarist, has kept a low profile in the recording world, but When At Last, his first CD in two decades, was released this year, the fans and critics went wild. Featuring his own compositions, When at Last also brings to the forefront several of Barenberg’s musical allies through the years. Guests include Dennis Crouch, Ruthie Dornfeld, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Viktor Krauss, Kenny Malone and Jeremiah McLane.

Here’s a history of the Instrumental Album of the Year award:

• 2007: Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular, Tony Trischka, produced by Tony Trischka, Bela Fleck & Ronnie Freeland for Rounder Records
• 2006: Let Er’ Go Boys, Michael Cleveland, produced by Jeff White & Michael Cleveland for Rounder Records
• 2005: Slide Effects, Phil Leadbetter, produced by Phil Leadbetter & Scott Vestal, Pinecastle Records
• 2004: Live At The Ragged Edge, Tom Adams & Michael Cleveland, Rounder Records, produced by Tom Adams & Michael Cleveland
• 2003: The Bluegrass Fiddle Album, Aubrey Haynie (artist/producer), on Sugar Hill Records.
• 2002: Flame Keeper, Michael Cleveland, Rounder Records
• 2001: Knee-Deep in Bluegrass: The AcuTab Sessions; Barry Bales, Butch Baldassari, Terry Baucom, Wayne Benson, Alan Bibey, Ronnie Bowman, Rob Ickes, Jason Moore, Joe Mullins, Alan Munde, Mark Newton, Alan O’Bryant, Sammy Shelor, Kenny Smith, Tim Stafford, Adam Steffey, Ron Stewart, Tony Trischka, Dan Tyminski, Scott Vestal, Pete Wernick; Rebel Records
• 2000: Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza; David Grisman, Ronnie McCoury, Sam Bush, Frank Wakefield, Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds, Ricky Skaggs & Buck White; Acoustic Disc
• 1999: Bound To Ride, Jim Mills, Sugar Hill Records
• 1998: Fiddle Patch, Bobby Hicks, Rounder Records
• 1997: Bluegrass Instrumentals, Volume 6; The Bluegrass Album Band; Rounder Records
• 1996: Ronnie & Rob McCoury, Ronnie & Rob McCoury, Rounder Records
• 1995: The Great Dobro Sessions; Mike Auldridge, Curtis Burch, Jerry Douglas, Josh Graves, Rob Ickes, Oswald Kirby, Stacy Phillips, Tut Taylor, Sally Van Meter, Gene Wooten; Sugar Hill Records
• 1994: Skip, Hop & Wobble; Douglas, Barenberg & Meyer; Sugar Hill Records
• 1993: Stuart Duncan, Stuart Duncan, Rounder Records
• 1992: Slide Rule, Jerry Douglas, Sugar Hill Records
• 1991: Norman Blake & Tony Rice - 2, Norman Blake & Tony Rice, Rounder Records
• 1990: The Masters; Adcock, Baker, Graves & McReynolds; CMH - 1990

Who’s going to win the 2008 IBMA Instrumental Album of the Year? Vote for your Favorite below!