Scott Anderson’s name has been a familiar one to bluegrass fans in Florida for the past 20 years. He performed and recorded on banjo with Endless Highway, Gentle River and The Bluegrass Parlor Band, and toured as a member of Jim Hurst’s band. Scott has also taught banjo, mandolin and guitar lessons for years in Gainesville.

He did release a solo CD, Rivers, in 2001 but his new project has him more excited than any musical project he has produced to date.

Another Day is a duo album with his teenaged daughter, Amanda. She is featured as the primary lead vocalist and fiddler, with Scott on banjo, guitar and vocals. Amanda, now 16, was 15 when this album was recorded, and had only been playing fiddle for two years at the time. The CD has already gotten some rave reviews, and folks in the bluegrass biz are paying attention to this talented young lady.

“Amanda played fiddle and did most of the lead singing, as well as singing one or two harmony parts at times. Amanda’s fiddle teacher and our friend Tommy Slaughter played of some of the tunes with us. The two of them also played fiddle together on Eileen’s Waltz which was written by my friend Mark Schatz, who also played bass on that cut.

Georgia On My Mind was played masterfully on guitar by another teenager, Austin Wilder. Jarrod Walker (yes, another teenager) played rhythm guitar on Looking In the Eyes of Love, and played some fantastic mandolin on several other tracks. Jarrod’s brother Cory Walker played upright bass on one cut and played some really slick resonator guitar on a few tracks. Most people know Cory as a banjo player (he’s now with Sierra Hull), but he is great on several instruments.

My old bandmate David McMillan (with whom I played in The Bluegrass Parlor Band years ago) played some bass and even drum parts on a few tunes and sang some harmony. He also did a great job of engineering and mastering the CD. My buddy Michael Godwin played upright bass on several tracks, including some really cool stuff on Georgia On My Mind.”

Georgia On My Mind – Listen Now (more…)

Jordan Tice is a young guitarist who is releasing a third CD under his name at only 21 years of age.

Long Story, recently released on Patuxent Music, features 10 original instrumental compositions performed by a group of stellar progressive string musicians. Jordan recorded his first solo project, No Place Better, in 2005 and was part of a trio album (Corbett/Chrisman/Tice) in 2007 with banjoist Wes Corbett and hammered dulcimer player Simon Chrisman.

This new solo release shows not only an obvious grasp of acoustic guitar technique, but a fresh compositional voice as well. It is not presented as a “guitar album” – with track-after-track of fiddle-tuney flatpicking – nor does it incorporate the odd vocal number with an eye towards radio play. In fact, the CD is more of a statement about Jordan’s original music than it is his guitar playing, and it is the tunes that shine, both for their clever melodies, and as improvisational vehicles for Tice and his fellow pickers.

The opening melodies are as likely to be presented by the dobro, fiddle or banjo as the guitar, which Tice had in mind when he created the tunes for this album.

“I did write many of the melodies with other instruments in mind. One thing that ties most of the music I love together is that the elements that make up the music are veiled behind the flow of the music. My goal was to make a record with a bluegrass band that accomplishes this rather than to highlight the guitar and ignore the abundance of textures and sounds the bluegrass band is capable of producing.”

Jordan’s tunes range from a fiery fiddle tune form (Sofia) to jazzy, new acoustic ballads (Chincoteague), and even an orchestrated, scored piece (The Colony).

Sofia really jumped out at me on first hearing, and it hasn’t diminished a bit upon multiple listenings.

Listen now:   

“Sofia was written a few years ago pretty quickly. Id say it’s the most straight forward on the record in that its just a tune that we play and improvise on with minimal arrangement. I named it after Sofia, Bulgaria after a visit there last summer. I just liked the simple and pretty sound of ’sofia’ and figured it fit.” (more…)

We got a note from Mark Schatz about his soon-to-be new gig playing bass with Claire Lynch.

Mark had been unable to get back with us when we posted recently about him coming aboard, and wanted to share a few thoughts about the move with everyone here.

“After four exciting and formative years with Nickel Creek I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be joining up with the Claire Lynch Band as of February 1st. As most of you know, Missy Raines has decided to step down after a long, musically and personally fulfilling association with Claire in order to devote her full time and attention to her own solo project. I’m a big fan of Missy’s – she toured with Mark Schatz and Friends and played on my Steppin’ in the Boiler House CD. I think she always sounded great with the CLB and I’m going to do my best to fill those talented, groovin’ shoes.

I had my first rehearsal with the band just this past week and was well pleased and encouraged by the wonderful range of material and the versatility of fellow band members Jim Hurst and Jason Thomas. Of course I’ve always been a huge fan of Claire’s singing since my earliest days on the bluegrass trail – I think she’s a world class talent to whom I’m proud to bring the skills that I have honed in my own acoustic/bluegrass experience. Count on seeing some of my flatfooting and clawhammer banjo playing as well as we embark on this new and exciting phase of our musical journey.”

Claire Lynch has announced that Mark Schatz will come aboard as her new bass player in The Claire Lynch Band.

Mark has been part of some of the most important ensembles in recent bluegrass/acoustic music history, and is also a recognized solo recording artist, instructor, producer and traditional clog dancer. Until they disbanded (for now) in November ‘07, he had been performing with Nickel Creek, and had done time with Tim O’Brien, B?©la Fleck, Emmy Lou Harris, Tony Rice and Jerry Douglas, among others.

Claire’s band now includes Schatz on bass, Jim Hurst on guitar and Jason Thomas on mandolin and fiddle, with Lynch on guitar and vocals. You can find their tour schedule online.