For the past fifteen years, Ron Block has been the spiritual touchstone of Alison Krauss and Union Station, contributing sterling musicianship on banjo, guitar and vocals. He isn't the ostentatious sort, and he doesn't need to be in order to stand out among the leading lights of contemporary acoustic music. That comes naturally, considering he's the rare bluegrass virtuoso—on not one, but two instruments—who's also earned respect as a songwriter, singer and producer. What further sets him apart is the fact that he’s as comfortable in ruminative mode—whether it be blogging on philosophical matters or retreating to his home studio to be alone with, and capture, his musical thoughts—as he is participating in bluegrass’s congenial, collaborative pickin' party culture.