Initially inspired by the possibilities and flexibility inherent in classic bluegrass, Peter Rowan and Tony Rice have helped reinvent American roots music over the course of their respective solo careers. When they joined forces for their first duo release, 2004’s You Were There for Me, these two established masters began a bold new chapter in their continuing artistic journey. Rowan’s aching vocals and poignant, poetic songs were elevated by Rice’s elegantly fleet flat-picking, resulting in an album that bore distinct traces of each man’s prior accomplishments, yet achieved a synthesis all its own. In the time since the release of You Were There for Me, Rowan and Rice’s touring quartet, featuring bassist/vocalist Bryn Davies and mandolinist/vocalist Sharon Gilchrist, has coalesced into a uniquely powerful, cohesive unit. The new album from Peter Rowan and Tony Rice, entitled Quartet, is a moving document of this new ensemble, with all the fire and fluidity of the band’s remarkable live performances preserved.