As Steve Martin himself once observed, you can’t play sad songs on the five-string banjo. The prolific comedian-author-actor proves it with this sparkling CD, in which his virtuosity on the instrument is front-and-center, and the mood is one of sheer delight.

For those who’ve followed Martin over the years, his love of the banjo is no surprise; in the “wild and crazy” phase of his career, when his onstage uniform was a white suit and an arrow through the head, he often punctuated goofy comic bits with fast-and-frenzied banjo breaks. It was funny stuff. The Crow isn’t funny, but it’s sure fun, and darned impressive. Musician-composer David Amram, who wrote the liner notes, hailed the album’s complexity and subtlety, calling it an “ambitious and sophisticated work,” with Martin taking listeners “into the world of his imagination, where harmony, joy and impeccable musicianship reign supreme.”

A picker since the age of 17, Martin’s developed a startling fluency on the 5-string. He plays plunky and homespun on some tunes, and with Scruggs-like speed and intensity on others. In fact, the master himself, Earl Scruggs, accompanies Martin on “Daddy Plays the Banjo,” with Grammy-winning bluegrass artist Tim O’Brien lending the vocals. Other stars on hand here include Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Mary Black and Tony Trischka.   

Just one selection on The Crow was not composed by Martin. “Clawhammer Medley,” a blend of popular American songs like “Simple Gifts,” showcases his dexterity in the clawhammer style of playing, which is tougher than Scruggs style. (For Hee-Haw fans—are there any of you still out there?—Grandpa Jones played clawhammer style.)

The question now is: do we refer to Steve Martin as a comedian first? He’s proven himself a great writer (Born Standing Up, Shopgirl), a credible playwright (Picasso at the Lapin Agile) and a good comic actor. But man, what a hell of a banjo player!

By Marjorie Preston

Marjorie Preston is a contributing editor of Global Gaming Business magazine and managing editor of Casino Connection Atlantic City.