"With the release of their first full length album, “Art of Acoustics”, The NAC delivers nine new recordings. Six are Jason Keiser compositions, one from David Boyden, one from Darol Anger. Also included is the Tony Rice composition “Old Gray Coat”, featuring Wyatt Rice on guitar. Jason has studied guitar with Wyatt and considers him a mentor.

The album is a journey in space and time. The first movement of Jason Keiser’s “Back in California” (00:00-00:47) untethers us from gravity in preparation for the adventure. The first sensation of acceleration is a clear reference to Dawg’s innovation tied by a brief pause to a touch of SpaceGrass, some classical organization and back to Dawg. Latin rhythm and harmony set us up for the first improvisation section. It’s the double bass taking the first break. The NAC is perhaps unique in the improvisation opportunities it provides for double bass. DGQ and TRU always had places for their bass players to solo, but The NAC has the double bass as a full member of the improvisation team. “Back in California” boasts both pizzicato and arco bass solos. At 04:23 the guitar continues the Latin feel with obvious Flamenco reference. Jason then solos over a hypnotic rhythm established by the double bass. Cello and arco bass trade through a solo section culminating in a series of unison lines which brings us back to the early Dawg. All this in just the first tune."

Bill Wolf, "Art of Acoustics" Official Liner Notes

"The San Francisco-based New Acoustic Collective has mutated newgrass and Dawg music into a new genre - spacegrass. Guitarist Jason Keiser leads NAC, which includes fiddler David Boyden, bassists Rodrigo Ruiz and Alonso Sanchez, and cellist Nathaniel Grohmann. Art of Acoustics is their second full-length release and it's characterized by drive and inventiveness. The album's great opener, "Back in California" recalls the David Grisman Quintet's "EMD" and Chick Corea's "Spain"."... the NAC is superbly tight and enjoyable. Art of Acoustics and their other recordings are available on Bandcamp, and other audio excerpts and performance videos are here."

© Patrick Ragains Minor 7th Acoustic Guitar Webzine

"The group cites their influences to include David Grisman’s Dawg compositions, Tony Rice’s SpaceGrass, and other new acoustic artists, but they are also able to cover a myriad of styles from jazz, bluegrass, flamenco, traditional string band, to classical... This talented young group really extends their boundaries of acoustic string band music with selections like “Back In California”, “Key Signator”, “Grapejelly”, “Jazzology”, and “Transcale”. There is also a sort of tribute to Jerry Douglas in “For Flux”, and Wyatt Rice is featured on “Old Grey Coat”. Fans of New Acoustic music will enjoy this new project as the group covers many styles of the genre."

© Bill Foster Bluegrass Unlimited