Ever since Tim O Brien, Pete Wernick, Nick Foster, and Charles Sawtelle first appearedonstage together in 1978, Hot Rize has been one of bluegrass music s most beloved and critically-acclaimed bands punctuated by winning the IBMA s first Entertainer of the Year Award. Although it s been almost 25 years since their last studio album, the foursome with guitarist Bryan Sutton taking the place of the late Sawtelle hasn t lost a step, as they prove on their new record, When I m Free.