Steep Canyon Rangers fans have only two months to wait until their next CD, Tell The Ones I Love, is released on Rounder Records.
Using time off from their travels with Steve Martin, the guys headed for Woodstock, NY earlier this year to track at Levon Helm Studios, with Larry Campbell producing. Eager to try something new, this album was recorded almost entirely live, inside the converted barn that has been the site for dozens of memorable and often historic albums.
All 12 tracks are band originals, written primarily by banjo picker Graham Sharp and bass man Charles Humphrey. With Campbell’s guidance, they also explored some new textures using drums and percussion.
But Graham says they aren’t looking askance at the ones who brung ’em to the dance.
“It took a lot of work for us to nose our way into the bluegrass world and become a de facto representative, and we think it’s a real responsibility.”
So they brought in drummer Jeff Sipe, who toured extensively with Leftover Salmon, and worked with him to create appropriate and complementary arrangements that matched Jeff’s skills with the band dynamic.
“We didn’t want something that was just a bluegrass track with drums laid on it like an afterthought. We wanted something that was really integrated.”
The remainder of the band consists of Woody Platt on guitar, Mike Guggino on mandolin, and Nicky Sanders on fiddle. Woody and Graham handle the lead singing.
Audio samples should appear closer to the September 10 release date.
