Since the first quintet took the stage on January 31, 1976 in Bolinas, California, acoustic music has never been the same. In a March 1996 DGQ concert review, a Chicago Tribune critic described Grisman's "dawg" music as being among "the most important innovations in American music. By blending the exuberant spirit of bluegrass, the inspired melodies of classic American pop, the improvisatory techniques of instrumental jazz and even the plaintive gestures of turn of the century Klezmer, Grisman has created a distinctive form of American music and lifted it to the level of high art."

Tracing the DGQ in its various configurations, from that very first concert to 1996, this compilation contains over three hours of previously unreleased tracks (18 never before recorded by the quintet) from both live and studio performances. Among the outstanding DGQ alumni featured on this project are Darol Anger, Mike Marshall, Mark O'Conner and Tony Rice. DGQ-20 also contains memorable collaborations with Svend Asmussen, Jethro Burns, Vassar Clements, Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins, Jerry Garcia, Stephane Grappelli and the Kronos Quartet. Above all, DGQ-20 is a remarkable audio-biography of the Dawg himself-producer, composer, bandleader and mandolinist David Grisman. Included in this special package is a 48 page history of the band featuring many rare photographs documenting this distinctive form of American music.