Chris Thile is a virtuoso mandolinist, composer and vocalist whose broad musical outlook transcends the limitations of conventional genres. The 2012 MacArthur Foundation "genius grant" 2012 recipient is known primarily for his bluegrass background as a member of the bands Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek, but his music encompasses jazz, classical, rock, and every style in between. His 2011 collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer and Stuart Ducan for The Goat Rodeo Sessions earned him Grammy for Best Folk Album.
CPR's Michael Hughes spoke with Thile about his love of Bach and his approach to classical performance.
For a taste of the mandolinist's interpretation of Bach, listen to the exclusive track below, recorded in 2009 in the CPR Performance Studio.
