Punch Brothers kicked off a string of November tour dates this past weekend after some time off that allowed for Chris Thile's monthlong tour with bassist Edgar Meyer featuring music from their recent debut duo album on Nonesuch (to which the Montreal Gazette recently gave 3 1/2 stars). These latest dates marked the debut of Punch Brothers' new bassist, Paul Kowert, who, fittingly, studied with Meyer at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music.

The Bluegrass Blog, in a post earlier today, features a bit of biographical information on the young bass player and a review from the site's John Lawless of the new lineup after their sold-out gig at Kirk Avenue Music in Roanoke, Virginia, last night.

"Kowert," the site reports, "is more than up to the task. Not only has he memorized the demanding Punch Brothers repertoire, but he is a brilliant soloist in his own right." Lawless calls Kowert's tone "gorgeous" and crediting his playing with having "brought a new dimension to the band’s already impressive sound."

There's no shortage of praise for the other members of the band as well, though the reviewer sees it as almost self-evident enough not to state it again:

I don’t suppose there is any news value in pointing out that each member of Punch Brothers was equally stunning on stage, as was the group as a whole. They continue to strike me as the most technically gifted string ensemble yet assembled, and the discipline they exhibit individually and as a unit is a wonder to behold.

To read the full article, visit thebluegrassblog.com. The tour continues with sets tonight and tomorrow night in Richmond, Virginia, at the Modlin Center for the Arts. For more tour information, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.