David Bromberg

David Bromberg came up in Philadelphia in the 1940s, listening to folk, blues, and bluegrass. He started putting out records in the early 1970s, with his self-titled debut arriving in 1971. By the middle of that decade, albums like 'Midnight on the Water' and 'How Much Time' had established his place as a guitarist and interpreter of American roots music.

His playing drew from sources like Big Bill Broonzy and Doc Watson, but he built his own sound around it. Songs like 'As The Years Go Passing By' and 'Helpless Blues' show his feel for melancholy and weathered storytelling. He recorded that 1977 title track with a steady hand, letting the lyric about time do its work without overplaying it.

Bromberg often worked with a regular group, sometimes called the David Bromberg Quintet, and played with people like John Hiatt and Cindy Cashdollar. He also turned up alongside Bob Dylan and Jerry Garcia at various points, fitting into those circles without trying to overshadow anyone. The music stayed grounded, more about the song and the picking than any grand statement.