We just got our advance copy of the new Sam Bush CD, Circles Around Me.

Sam had told us that it was one that his bluegrass and newgrass fans would really appreciate, and he wasn’t kidding. Other than the subtle percussion from Sam’s regular drummer, Chris Brown, this is pretty much a bluegrass record – and Bush has quite a bluegrass group lurking underneath his rock-edged road band.

Through all 14+ tracks, Scott Vestal shows why he has been held in such high regard by banjo players these many years, initially as a hard-driving Scruggs/Baucom/Crowe picker with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and later as an envelope-pusher with his own recordings. On Circles his playing is simply brilliant, as is Stephen Mougin’s tasteful acoustic guitar. Byron House has been a bass player’s, bass player for years, and he delivers solid timing with a huge tone – as always.

Sam is in fine voice, and the production is transparent, leaving the sound of the acoustic instruments to ring true with very little compression or effects. He is featured most prominently on mandolin, and Del McCoury even joins in for a couple of duets. Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer also appear as guests. Courtney Johnson even makes a posthumous appearance in a banjo/fiddle duet recorded in 1976.

We hope to be able to stream some audio from this terrific CD soon, but in the meantime, here’s Sam with a few words about when you can get your own copy…

Merlefest gets underway today. It’s one of the biggest festivals in the country and many, if not most, of your favorite bluegrass acts will be performing at some point during the week.

If you’re not there, but you’d like to know what’s going on. Or, if you are there, but you’d like to know what’s going on backstage, here’s your chance.

Our pal Wichita Rutherford is there all week and hanging out back stage with Doc and the other stars. He’s going to give us all a window into what’s happening, by Twittering his experiences. He tells me he plans to let us know who’s backstage and what they’re doing, what they’re eating, and who they’re talking to. Apparently there will be no privacy this year at Merlefest! Wichita will also be catching a few parking lot jams and letting us know what’s happening there.

Wichita tells me there may even be a friendly slap fight match or two. He’s challenged Tim Stafford, Terry Eldrige and Jerry Douglas among others. Of course, if Chris Thile shows up…

If Chris Thile shows there will be an all out slap fight brawl; a loser leaves MerleFest cage match, if you will.

I’m sure Wichita will let us know all the details if it happens. Be careful buddy!

In addition to just Tweeting the events as they happen, Wichita will also be posting photos on his Twitter page.

If you want to follow Wichita’s Tweets, then just go to Twitter.com, you’ll need an account, and search for WichitaR or Wichita Rutherford, and enjoy!

Elvis Costello last recorded an acoustic album in 1986. On June 2, 2009 he is set to release another, Secret, Profane & Sugarcane. The album was produced by T Bone Burnett, recorded in Nashville in three days, and features a number of bluegrass musicians.

This if from Costello’s website, announcing the new record.

Joining Costello were Jerry Douglas (dobro), Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Mike Compton (mandolin), Jeff Taylor (accordion) and Dennis Crouch (double bass), some of the most highly regarded recording artists and musicians in traditional American country music, Bluegrass and beyond.

…

Jim Lauderdale takes the close vocal harmony part throughout the record and Emmylou Harris contributed a third vocal part on the chorus of “The Crooked Line” on the final day of recording.

Obviously, it’s not a bluegrass record, but it will include the sounds of bluegrass and may introduce some new fans to the sounds and lead them down a path of discovery.

I’m continually thankful for musicians like those mentioned here, who so excel at their craft that their art is desired even by those who inhabit other musical genres.

I’m looking forward to hearing this recording.

Jerry Douglas, Jim Lauderdale and Sam Bush are all scheduled as presenters at Music Producers Institute sessions in 2009.

These 3 day sessions offer a crash course in how successful studio producers “do what they do.” Led by Grammy-winning producer Steve Fishell, the sessions allow ten participants to follow the entire record-making process, from pre-production and tracking, to overdubbing, mixing and mastering.

The Jerry Douglas session is set for February 9-11 at Oceanway Studios in Nashville. Jerry and his band, along with acoustic producer par excellence Bil VornDick, will be in the studio with Fishell. Students at the session will not only be able to watch the whole thing go down, but also ask questions during the process.

Fishell has worked as a producer for the past 20 years, including work with Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, The Dixie Chicks, The Duhks, and The Mavericks. He has worked in A&R for Sugar Hill and Vanguard Records, and was involved in signing artists such as The Duhks, Casey Driessen, Albert Lee, Sam Bush and Rebecca Lynn Howard.

We asked Steve what a participant could expect at an MPI session…

“We cover many important areas of record production, including song arranging, tracking, artist psychology in the studio, overdubbing, mic selection and placement, mixing and mastering. No experience is necessary and novices will feel right at home during the sessions; however a background in audio engineering and/or studio production is suggested. Those with home studios will greatly benefit from this program.”

Tuition for the three days is $1,199, and registration is first come, first served.

Jim Lauderdale’s session is scheduled for March 2-4 in Nashville. Dates for the Bush session will be announced soon.