During the just concluded IBMA week in Nashville, we had occasion to speak with reigning IBMA Banjo Player Of The Year Jim Mills at some length. We recorded an interview with Jim which we will feature in a GrassCast episode soon, but did want to pass along one piece of news that Jim shared with us last week.

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder are working now on an all-instrumental CD made up of tunes that Skaggs has written. Jim said that Ricky has recently become fascinated with making up tunes on the mandolin, and their stage shows have begun to feature them more prominently. A few tunes have already been recorded but there are no firm plans for a completion or release date for this instrumental project.

Jim also mentioned that he had been in the studio of late working on a Bruce Hornsby project which will feature Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder.