Jerry Douglas brings Flatt and Scruggs tribute to Ryman

Grammy-winning dobro player Jerry Douglas has played both Carnegie Hall and Ryman Auditorium. He said "every musician in the world" wants to play both venues. He's done that and if he's comparing the two, he looks forward to the Ryman.

"For me, I enjoy the Ryman more," said Douglas, who will play the venue Thursday with his band Earls of Leicester.

The group — which also features well-known musicians Shawn Camp, Johnny Warren, Charlie Cushman, Barry Bales and Tim O'Brien — recreates the music of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys.

"It's music that has kind of been forgotten in the bluegrass world," Douglas said. "People play the songs, but they don't know where they came from. People who are playing bluegrass now … find out about Nickel Creek or Alison Krauss first and they think that's where bluegrass music came from. I know Bill Monroe created bluegrass out of thin air, but … he didn't have a bluegrass band until he had Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs in his band. That's when the magic happened in the air and bluegrass music was born."

Douglas promises the band's music is the closest thing to "Flatt and Scruggs since Flatt and Scruggs." Douglas, who also plays with Alison Krauss & Union Station, grew up listening to Flatt and Scruggs and got to know them as an adult as well as all the members in their band.

"I'm sitting in the catbird seat on this one," he said. "I've waited so long to put this band together and play this stuff with these guys that I'm six years old all over again when I play this stuff. I look forward to playing it every time we do it because it's an event to us."

Earls of Leicester will play Ryman Auditorium 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Admission is $27.50. Tickets are available at Ryman Auditorium's box office or at www.ryman.com.