This and the volume 2 CD in the series draw from the four LPs released in the early 1980s under the name "The Bluegrass Album", etc.  The LPs and this CD represent a monumental accomplishment, in several respects.  The repertoire on this CD ranges from Bill Monroe's classical instrumental "Cheyenne" to Jim Croce's originally non-bluegrass "Age", and there isn't a weak tune here.  Everything is squarely in the bluegrass tradition established by Monroe and Scruggs, yet, more than fifty years after the phrase "bluegrass music" came into being, and more than twenty after these cuts were recorded, every one is fresh-sounding and stimulating.  And while there's no shortage of star instrumentalists here (Tony Rice, J.D. Crowe, and Jerry Douglas are certainly among the all-time greats), this is definitely a team effort; the ensemble playing is tight, and the harmonies are wonderful.