Sometimes, new CDs and news of their releases, come in faster than we can post about them. Here is some information about a number of recent projects that may be of interest.

We offered a few words about Rick Hayes’ debut solo project, not long ago on The Bluegrass Blog. The CD, Fly By Night, was released this week, and features Rick on mandolin and lead vocals, along with The Gibson Brothers, with whom he performs on a regular basis.

Audio samples from the CD, which also features Ron Stewart on banjo, Jim Van Cleve on fiddle, Josh Swift on resonator guitar and Rick on mandolin and bass and guitar, can be heard on the Rick Hayes web site.

Rick will be interviewed online this Saturday when he joins Gracie Muldoon on WorldWideBluegrass.com. Catch Rick and Gracie on Muldoon with the Blue Moon on May 24 at 10:00 p.m.

Can’t Wait, the the second CD from the Allegheny Drifters, was released in, April right on time for the Pennsylvania group’s 5th anniversary performing as a unit.

The band includes Bernie Cunningham on lead vocals/guitar, Bob Artis on baritone vocals/mandolin, Karen Artis on tenor vocals/bass and Keith Beaver on bass vocals/banjo, with guest artist Michael Cleveland on fiddle.

Audio samples from several tracks can be found on their web site, along with their summer schedule of live shows

Also celebrating their second CD release is The Jason Boone Band from the state of Mississippi. Their new project is I Hear Mississippi Calling, which highlights the strong tenor voice of the band’s namesake, along with Don Robinson on banjo and lead vocals, Johnny Rawls on bass, Lee Ely on mandolin and Jeff Boone on fiddle. Jason plays guitar.

The material is a mix of band originals and country/Gospel hits, all performed in a driving bluegrass style. This relatively new band, formed in 2004, has been making noise on the circuit since they first appeared, and their previous self-titled Gospel CD has been well received as well.

Audio samples can be found on CD Baby or in the iTunes Music Store.

Rick Hayes, mandolinist with The Gibson Brothers, is in the studio putting the finishing touches to his first solo CD, Fly By Night, due for release in May. Rick plays mandolin, guitar and bass on the project with Ron Stewart on banjo, Jim VanCleve on fiddle and Josh Swift on dobro.

Hayes handles the lead vocals as well, with the exception of a guest lead each by his bandmates Eric and Leigh Gibson. Harmony vocals were provided by Dwight McCall, the Gibsons and Clay Hess. The CD will also include a bonus track sung by his father, Green Hayes.

Hess contributed three new songs to the project, and Mark Cole, formerly of Larry Sparks & the Lonesome Ramblers, has two.

Fly By Night was recorded in Rick’s studio, Hayes Productions, where he has previously tracked projects like Dwight McCall’s Kentucky Peace of Mind and Clay Hess’s Red Haired Boy. It will be released under his new label Kang Records – an homage to the bluegrass pronunciation of the legendary King Records.

Next weekend, guitar and mandolin enthusiasts in the Cincinnati area will have a chance to study with Clay Hess and Rick Hayes.

Hess is the new guitarist with Mountain Heart, and had previously worked with both Ricky Skaggs and Mark Newton. Hayes plays mandolin with The Gibson Brothers, and makes handmade Hayes Mandolins in his Cincinnati shop.

The pair will offer their workshop on November 17 at Zeiler Music Center in Rising Sun, IN. Three one-hour classes will be held from 2:00-5:00 p.m., followed by an evening concert.

The workshops are described by the organizers thusly:

The three consecutive one-hour workshops will cover bluegrass 1) guitar and 2) mandolin techniques and then 3) how they fit within a band structure. Time will be allowed for question and answers as well.

Full contact and registration info for the 11/17 event can be found online.