Jack Lawrence has announced the April 12 release of his next album, Arthel’s Guitar, on Little King Records. It’s a mix of vocals and instrumentals featuring the stellar guitar work and vocals of this long-time Doc Watson accompanist.
Joining Lawrence are Wayne Benson on mandolin, Curtis Burch on dobro, Don Lewis and Shad Cobb on fiddle, Steve Lewis on banjo, Ron Shuffler on bass and Todd Pons providing harmony vocals.
Jack says that this album is dedicated to the first generation of folk and bluegrass musicians who served as his inspiration to learn to play.
“Included are songs I learned from the Byrds, Flatt and Scruggs, Reno and Smiley, Clarence Ashley and of course my old friend Doc Watson. Also there are several original instrumentals including the title track. As well, there are two previously unreleased tunes from 1986 that feature Doc and T. Michael Coleman.
The cover picture is ‘Arthel,’ the D-18 Doc used on many of of his early Vanguard Records: Strictly Instrumental with Flatt and Scruggs, Home Again, Good Deal and according to Doc, he used it on the On Stage double album set. Doc gave me that guitar about 25 years ago. I rebuilt it and used it on several of Doc’s recordings in the ’90s, and I used it throughout this recording.”
Lawrence wrote three of the album’s five instrumentals, including the title track.
“Fiddlefoot is one Doc titled for me years ago, and Ten Miles To Deep Gap is one of the previously unleased tunes from 1986 that features Doc on rhythm guitar and banjo. This is a different cut from the one on my About Time CD from ’97.”
Can’t wait to hear this one.
