Audie Blaylock is using the Centennial of Bill Monroe’s birth as the occasion to release a tribute project on Rural Rhythm, appropriately titled, I’m Going Back To Old Kentucky. Recorded with his road band, Redline, the Big Mon album also features guest artists Del and Ronnie McCoury, Bobby Osborne, Lou Reid, Carl Jackson, Glenn Duncan and Jason Carter.
Though Blaylock has been performing as a bluegrass professional since the early 1980s – working with Jimmy Martin, Rhonda Vincent, and Michael Cleveland before launching a solo career in ’08 – it was the release of an all-star Martin tribute record in 2004 that really brought him to the attention of a wider audience. His driving rhythm guitar and traditional bluegrass vocals established the foundation for the album, which was nominated for both Grammy and IBMA awards.
So why not back to the well once more?
A debut single has been released, a powerful rendition of Mighty Dark To Travel, cut with Redliners Patrick McAvinue on fiddle, Russ Carson on banjo, and Reed Jones on bass, along with special guests Ronnie McCoury on mandolin and Bobby Osborne on tenor vocals.
Mighty Dark To Travel: [http://www.ruralrhythm.com/audio/Song%20Clips/clip-AudieBlaylock&Redline-Mightydark.mp3]
Other Monroe favorites on the CD include My Little Georgia Rose, You’ll Find Her Name Written There, Out In The Cold World, Cry, Cry Darlin’, and When The Golden Leaves Begin To Fall. The album closes with a rousing triple fiddle version of Tall Timber.
I’m Going Back To Old Kentucky is set for digital release on May 17, with CDs available May 31. This looks like a good’n, folks.
