I heartily second John’s comment about being too busy to post showcase reviews in a timely manner. But even if this is late, these bands are still very worthy of mention. As it happens, each of the groups I watched also has a newly-released CD.

I caught Sirius/XM deejay Chris Jones and his band the Nightdrivers in the 1:30 slot on Tuesday night. Their show is always entertaining and almost always includes one of banjo-player Ned Luberecki’s signature pieces. Tonight it was his “classic” bluegrass song, Cabin of Death, which we all sang along with merrily. Their new release, Cloud of Dust, has been mentioned here in a previous entry. We sat around so long talking after the show that the security guards asked us to move along so they could close up, which made us feel a little rebellious.

John has already mentioned the Jeff and Vida Band’s excellent showcase, so I’ll just add the picture below. They have a new CD titled Selma Chalk. I’d also like to give them a big thumbs up for being the only showcase room I saw that was actually decorated. With a little thought and effort on their part they created a very pleasant atmosphere in which to listen to music. Their decor wasn’t elaborate, but it was a welcome change from the zero atmosphere of the other showcase rooms. (Showcase presenters take note!) The paintings of instruments on the wall behind them are by Lori Davis.

New York Monroe-style mandolinist Buddy Merriam and his band Backroads delivered an excellent performance featuring material from their new album Back Roads Mandolin. Singer/guitarist Kathy DeVine and bass player Ernie Sykes sang a particularly stunning duet on an old George Jones and Melba Montgomery song. They ended with a tune Buddy wrote in honor of Butch Baldassari titled simply Baldassari, showing once again how great an influence Butch had within the mandolin community.

Finally I caught almost a whole set of Dede Wyland. She may be best known around the Washington D.C. area, but years ago she played with the nationally-known band Tony Trischka and Skyline. Her first new album in a long time is called Keep the Light On. She gathered some D.C.-area all-stars to back her up: Mike Munford on banjo, Ira Gitlin on bass, and Frank Sollivan on mandolin. (I didn’t catch the name of the fiddler.) Her voice is high and pure and her music has just a bit of a progressive edge to it.

Ira came up with one of the niftiest terms I’ve heard in a while. When a fiddle kicks off a fiddle tune, it generally starts with a shuffle bow lick called “potatoes.” You usually have either four or eight sets of potatoes. When the fiddler started to kick into a tune at the showcase Ira said, “Give us the old quadraspud!”

Just a quick update to say there is a ton of great bluegrass music being played this year. I saw three bands last night, all excellent.

First, John and I were able to catch a Mountain Heart show. The band performed some of their more requested tunes, but also unveiled some new music they’re working up. Several of the songs were performed for the first time last night. The material is great and the band sounds powerful. I really enjoyed the show. I taped part of the show and we talked to a couple of the band members afterward, with the camera running, so be on the lookout for a video later today.

Next we caught Adam Steffey’s official showcase. Adam has long been one of my favorites, and last night proved why. There’s just something cool about that “low lonesome sound” as Adam said, “High lonesome is sooooo 2007!”

Since Adam was the last of the official, main stage showcases, I headed downstairs for some “after hours” fun.

I caught Buddy Merriam’s show. Celebrating his 30th year of performing bluegrass music, there is no finer Monroe style mandolin player out there. And Buddy is just one of my favorite people. It doesn’t hurt that he’s got Ernie Sykes Jr. playing bass and singing with him. What a voice!

I stayed put after Buddy was finished and had the pleasure of hearing Frank Solivan II and his band Dirty Kitchen. Frank is a great musician and singer, and he’s surrounded himself with excellent musicians and singers. I was especially impressed with their trio vocals. They had the parts worked out and sounded good. Performing some traditional material as well as many originals, they’ve got a finely tuned sound that obviously appealed to the crowed who gathered to hear them.

After that, I visited with a few friends, picked up a couple pieces of news you’ll be reading about in the coming days, and then headed to bed. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a camera with me, so no pictures.

Mandolin player Buddy Merriam has recently released a new solo CD containing 14 of his traditionally styled, original mandolin compositions.

Buddy is a special jewel within the bluegrass firmament. Not only is he a traditionalist at heart, but also an innovator. Something I think Monroe would have been proud of. In addition to his fine mandolin playing, Buddy has contributed to the bluegrass world by mentoring a number of currently rising stars. Andy Falco, of the Infamous Stringdusters, spent time learning bluegrass music in Buddy’s band, Buddy Merriam & Back Roads. Chris Eldridge, Chris Pandolfi, Josh Williams, and others, have all been influenced by Buddy. Opened his room to late night jam sessions and simply hanging out with these young players, Buddy has mentored them in the ways of bluegrass.

When Buddy talks about bluegrass, mandolin, or Bill Monroe, you would be wise to listen.

And when he plays…well listen still, and enjoy!

This new CD, Back Roads Mandolin, bears a strong traditional bluegrass tone, but Buddy doesn’t limit himself. He introduces the sounds of waltzes, gypsy jazz, and polka. The CD closes with a haunting, but lively, tribute to the late Butch Baldassari. The tune is appropriately named Baldassari.

Buddy’s fellow band members all take part in contributing to the well rounded bluegrass sound of this CD. Ernie Sykes (bass), Jerry Oland (5-string banjo), Bob Harris (guitar), and Gary Oleyar (fiddles), are all present, along with appearances by Jeff Schmich on harmony mandolin, and Mike Sassano on mandola, mandocello and harmony mandolin.

Buddy described the CD this way.

Along with the hard core mandolin tunes there is a Waltz that features the 5 string (Jerry Oland), a polka that features the guitar (Bob Harris) and a twin fiddle tune (Gary Oleyar). I wrote one to the memory of Butch Baldassari with the mandolin family instruments(mandola & mandocello) entitled “Baldassari”.

In addition to the new CD, Buddy tells me that his first mandolin book has been revised in a new edition, with 30 tunes and tablature, as well as standard music notation. The book is almost ready for publication, and Buddy intends to begin work on volume 2 as soon as this new edition is out. The new book will contain all new tunes from several of his more recent recordings.

Back Roads Mandolin is great CD of original, yet traditional, bluegrass instrumentals. It is mando-centric, but all the instruments get their time in the spotlight, including lead guitar (I guess it’s only so traditional!). Buddy’s traditional style and great tone come through loud and clear, the band is tasteful, the arrangements are appropriate on each tune, and the twin fiddle stuff is great.

If you like traditional bluegrass instrumentals, I would suggest you check out Back Roads Mandolin.