David Bromberg has always exhibited great versatility and a diverse range of styles in his live performances. Whether he was solo acoustic or accompanied by a band, he displayed a great mastery of stringed instruments and had a humorous, engaging stage presence few could match. Bromberg's popularity as a recording artist was peaking in the mid-1970s, after he released an impressive line of albums on Columbia, featuring notable contributions from the likes of George Harrison and members of the Grateful Dead. He assembled what was probably his finest touring band during the 1975/1976 era, releasing the highly acclaimed and influential studio album, Midnight On The Water and its 1976 half live/half studio follow-up, How Late'll Ya Play 'Til.
These two albums captured Bromberg and cohorts playing folk, country, blues, traditional, rock 'n' roll, and bluegrass. In defiance of being locked into any one genre, this group featured outstanding musicianship, regardless of the material, and with Bromberg's diversity and skill, delivered some of the most engaging live performances of the mid-1970s. Bromberg remained somewhat active through the 1980s, recording sporadically, and in 1990 released Sideman Serenade, his last studio record until 2007's Try Me One More Time, which garnered him a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Folk Album.