The Holler, at the Ole Smoky Distillery in Gatlinburg, TN, was the place to be on June 7 when Dan Tyminski, Shawn Lane, Ron Stewart, Jeff Partin, Matt Flake, and Aaron Ramsey assembled as The Bluegrass Allstars for a star-studded live show. It was the third in a series of special, free bluegrass shows at The Holler this summer, all provided by Ole Smoky’s legal moonshine brand.
Still to come are:
July 27 – David Parmley Band
August 9 – Appalachian Road Show
August 16 – Larry Stephenson Band
Laci Mack shared this terrific gallery of images from the show. Thanks Laci!
Aaron Ramsey is an unusually gifted bluegrass artist, producer, instrumentalist, and singer, though his work as a sideman keeps his from being as recognized a name as many others in our business. Adept on all the bluegrass instruments, Aaron currently plays mandolin with Volume Five, and only rarely steps out front with his own music.
But this week is the time. Mountain Fever Records has dropped a first single from a solo project for Ramsey, which is expected to be completed and released next year. It’s his take on a Tim O’Brien song, Church Steeple (High on a Hillside), where Aaron sings lead and plays guitar.
He says that he likes that this song can be experienced on a level that depends on how much the listener invests in it.
“I remember hearing Church Steeple and liking the way it sounded when Tim O’Brien sang it.
Church Steeple tells stories we all can relate to, and the chord structure and melody marries up nicely to the lyrics. It can be as light or as deep as anyone wants it to be.”
Studio support comes from Ron Stewart on banjo, Adam Steffey on mandolin, Jeff Partin on reso-guitar, Justen Haynes on fiddle, and Jason Moore on bass.
They turn in a very strong track with plenty of complex rhythmic subtleties, and Aaron’s voice on top. Check it out…
Ramsey has working on this album, Days So Blue, for several years as his time and tour schedule allow, and it is wonderful to learn that it will finally be available in the near future.
Lowe spares us the more than a dozen verses that the song has had over the past 350 years since the song was first published, with musicologists suggesting that it goes back much further still. With only five verses, Andy turns out a concise arrangement, perfect for the punchy, bluesy style he plays.
He is supported by Jacob Burleson on guitar, Jeff Partin on bass, and Aaron Ramsey on mandolin and vocal.
Andy described how this track came into existence.
“This updated cut of Barbry Allen started off a bit different. It was the only song for my album where I hadn’t already laid out a clear vision for it by the time we got in the studio. All I knew was that it would fit Aaron’s vocals to a tee; with a little urging and some shameless begging, he agreed to sing it.
I’ve heard several versions of Barbry Allen over the years, and always loved to hear it done in the Irish ballad/folksy style. But I had zero clue what to do for my own cut. So, we (Aaron, Jeff, Jacob, and I) went back to basics: we sat in a circle with a guitar, trying to come up with a chord progression and melody, and narrowing the verses down into a manageable length without sacrificing the story.
And as we sat there exchanging ideas, the song took a turn into a more brooding sound because, let’s face it, this isn’t the most heartwarming subject matter. The slower, grittier arrangement was finalized, and we went right into our recording booths and cut it on the second take. No click-track, no charts, just a groove. We were all pleasantly surprised with the final product. As predicted, Aaron sang the absolute fire out of this one, and now Barbry Allen has been raised from the dead with new life.
Volume Five has announced a personnel change as they enter 2020. Aaron Ramsey has joined the group playing mandolin.
Aaron has become a highly influential player in the bluegrass world of late. In his dozen years with Mountain Heart, he established himself as a prominent multi-instrumentalist, and a mandolinist of the highest order. But he has also developed a strong reputation as a recording engineer with Mountain Fever Studios in Virginia. Many of the hit albums tracked there have been engineered and/or mastered by Ramsey, and he will remain in that position as he takes the gig with Volume Five.
Lead vocalist and band leader Glen Harrell says that they have been wanting Aaron in the band for some time.
“We are so excited to welcome Aaron Ramsey to Volume Five. We have all known Aaron for several years, have worked with him in recording, and he has filled in on mandolin and bass a few times in the past. Over the last few years we have been trying to work it out where Aaron could be a part of the band but it always seemed like when we wanted him to come, he had other obligations, or when he had thought about picking with us we didn’t have a slot open. Well the opportunity for us both finally came around. Aaron is one of the most talented musicians and record producers in this business. He has a great musical mind whether on the stage or in the studio. Not only that but he is a good friend of ours, and its always fun to play music with your buddies. We look forward to creating new music, and him being part of Volume Five.”
For Ramsey, the timing was finally right to make this move.
“After an enjoyable 12 year run with Mountain Heart, I had decided that it was time to step away. I wish Josh and Seth and the Mountain Heart crew all the best, and look forward to hearing what they do next. We remain great friends. It was just time for me to do something different.
In the meantime, this spot opened up with Volume Five, and I was happy for the opportunity. I’m looking forward to future endeavors with them.”
He joins Harrell on fiddle and lead vocal, Patton Wages on banjo, and Jacob Burleson on guitar. A new bass player for Volume Five is expected to be named shortly.
Glenn tells us that they are on the lookout for new material now for their next record
“The process sometimes can be slow but that’s only because we are so passionate about bringing the very best music we can to our fans and bluegrass music lovers throughout the world. Recording new music is probably our favorite part of what we do because we get to bring everyone’s thoughts and musical ability into creating the best music we can.”
We’ll all be eager to hear what they come up with.
On Saturday, June 16, Aaron Ramsey and Molly Barrett were married in a private ceremony at the lower end of Linville Gorge Wilderness, located near Morganton in western North Carolina.
Both are professional musicians, Aaron mandolinist with Mountain Heart, and Molly the fiddler with Whitewater Bluegrass. Both work extensively in the music business. Aaron plays plays most all of the bluegrass instruments at a professional level, and is a sought-after recording engineer and studio session player. Molly also teaches violin in Hickory, NC and plays with the Western Piedmont Symphony.
Following their wedding on Saturday afternoon, a reception was held at Molly’s parents’ home.
The newlyweds are currently honeymooning in Hawaii, and will reside in Morganton upon their return.
Congratulations and best wishes to Aaron and Molly!
The new release from Circa Blue is accurately named. In A Darker Blue, this Northern Maryland trio puts the blues in bluegrass.
The title gives a solid hint, of course. Further evidence comes from a glance through the titles of the 13 songs included here – Haunted, Drunkard’s Moan, Dark as a Dungeon, Ain’t Got No Money, Dark Hollow, and I Still Look for You.
And if those clues elude you, you won’t miss it once the music starts, even when the tales of woe are set to a blazing bluegrass tempo. You can hear the despair in the fiddle of Chris Sexton and the resophonic guitar of Gaven Largent and in the mournful voices of Steve Harris and Ron Webb.
The best of the best here is a Webb and Harris original, Ain’t Got No Money, the sad tale of a guy who lost his wife, lost his job and lost his money transformed perfectly into a swing tune. It’s far and away the best original song in this collection. Imagine being so down and out that a beggar “said I’m sorry as he thew a quarter at my feet.”
Other standouts are Dark as a Dungeon, a Merle Travis song popularized by the Country Gentlemen, I Still Look for You, a musician’s lament about too many miles on the road and too little time at home by Tom Clowser, and Dark Hollow. This bluegrass standard has been cut countless times, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard a bluesier arrangement than this one.
I’m also partial to Let the Lower Lights Be Burning, an old hymn lifted by the pairing of Harris’ lead vocal and Webb’s tenor and a simple but elegant guitar break from producer Aaron Ramsey.
And if all the blues get you down, Circa Blue tucked a pick-me-up in the middle of the darkness, a rip-roaring instrumental from the band’s banjoman, Matt Hickman. I have to confess that I don’t always “get” how instrumentals are named, even when I hear the composer’s explanation. But I “got” Lead Foot right off the bat. The tune, which races along from start to finish, propelled by Marshall Wilborn’s tasteful bass playing, was named after a friend of Hickman’s was caught speeding.
At the moment, Circa Blue’s picking and singing are stronger on balance than their writing. But as the band mates develop as songwriters to the point where most of their originals are as solid as Ain’t Got No Money and Lead Foot, Circa Blue’s following is sure to grow.
Mountain Fever has released a debut single from the upcoming self-titled album by Ash Breeze, formerly The Smith Family Band.
The group includes siblings Corey Smith on guitar, Nellie Smith on fiddle, Luke Smith on banjo, and Eli Smith on mandolin, along with their proud papa Allen Smith on bass.
For their first single, the Smith’s have chosen Without Love, written by Corey and Nellie, and featuring Nellie on lead.
See what you think…
The video was filmed and edited by Corey Smith, the young filmmaker behind the two Generation Bluegrass DVDs. Additional videos from Ash Breeze can be viewed at their web site.
Look for the new album, produced by Aaron Ramsey, early in 2014.
Aaron Ramsey may be best known for his role as the mandolin player for Mountain Heart, but on his recent solo project, Gathering, he takes on almost every role imaginable within a bluegrass project. Ramsey not only showcases his noteworthy mandolin skills, but also takes turns on guitar, bouzouki, bass, banjo, and resophonic guitar, as well as both lead and harmony vocals. While that list may make it seem like Ramsey laid down all the tracks completely by himself, he is also joined by a literal “who’s who” of bluegrass stars, making Gathering quite an impressive recording.
Ramsey co-wrote five of the album’s twelve songs. The album opens with one of these co-writes (this one with Dennis Goodwin), a well-written Western legend called The Streets of Abilene about a man who, “if they measured nerve in ounces… would weigh a ton.” No One’s Found Her Yet was written with Josh Miller, and begins with haunting fiddle from Tim Crouch which sets the scene for the rest of the song nicely. Way Up on The Mountain (one of two tracks credited to Ramsey and his father, Michael) is a pleasant, melodic piece which traces the feeling of freedom the singer finds on a mountain throughout his life.
Michael Ramsey also penned four additional songs for the album. He is Here is an enjoyable up-tempo gospel number which urges listeners to take Jesus up on His offer of salvation. Another gospel song is The Healer, which has a slow, earnest feel, and speaks of how Jesus is always there, even in your darkest moments. Aaron’s deep lead vocals suit this piece well.
There are also a few old favorites, including the Osborne Brothers’ One Tear. It’s rendered in a fashion fairly similar to previous versions, but it’s still a great listen, thanks to Barry Abernathy’s strong lead vocals and the track’s great instrumentation (including a fine mandolin solo from Ramsey). It’s one of the album’s best tunes, as is a Rickey Wasson-led Fare Thee Well (Farewell). The album also closes on a high note, with the driving, traditional John Henry Blues. Jim Van Cleve offers some fine fiddling, and Tony Rice adds one of his instantly recognizable guitar solos. This is another instance where Ramsey’s voice fits the song particularly well.
For fans of well-performed, modern traditional bluegrass, this album will be a treat. Almost everyone is sure to find a favorite musician included here. In addition to those listed above, David Babb (upright bass), Ron Block (banjo), Randy Kohrs (resophonic guitar), Tim Stafford (guitar), Josh Swift (resophonic guitar), Jason Moore (upright bass), and Patton Wages (banjo), among others, each contribute to at least one track. Ramsey’s instrumental skills, particularly on mandolin, are showcased throughout, and he provides listeners with several tasteful and talented solos.
The only problem with the album is that it’s not yet widely available. It can currently be purchased from Ramsey’s website, and the Northfield Mandolin website (whose products Ramsey plays and endorses).
The album is now available from popular download and streaming services online.
If you’ve caught a Junior Sisk show this past few years, or heard his last two records, you know what a blistering banjo picker he has in Jason Davis. This month, at the age of 23, Davis is seeing his second solo project released on Mountain Fever.
The 13 tracks on Second Time Around show Jason to be not only adept with the five string, but also at putting together a first rate recording. Less than half the cuts are banjo instrumentals, with the rest being a mix of new and classic songs performed with a crack band, and featuring a bevy of talented bluegrass vocalists.
For the most part, the rhythm section consists of Kevin McKinnon on mandolin, Keith McKinnon on guitar, and Kameron Keller on bass (the Killer K’s!), with Davis on banjo. Both Ron Stewart and Justen Haynes provide fiddle on selected tracks, as does Josh Swift on reso-guitar and Aaron Ramsey on mandolin.
But Jason conceived of this project as one where the singers would shine, placing him in the comfortable supportive role he has played with Junior, and before that with Blue Ridge, Kenny & Amanda Smith, and Michelle Nixon & Drive. He chose the songs and the singers, all save a clever and original arrangement of O Death, which was devised by the McKinnon brothers.
Let’s look first at the four banjo tunes, which show Jason at home on both modern and more traditional music. He offers a rip-snortin’ take on Bully Of The Town, popularized in the 1920s by Gid Tanner and Riley Puckett, and cemented later as a banjo piece by Don Reno. For Davis, it’s a reprise of a version he cut for Huber Banjos’ Cuppa ‘Jo CD, with a few new twists.
Ted’s Tune is a new composition from Aaron Ramsey, a real driving tune with a more modern chord structure and melody. Liberty is expertly presented as a classic banjo/fiddle duet with Ron Stewart, and the album ends with a brief performance of Shamrock, played just beyond Ludicrous Speed. Jason nails them each and every one, showing why he is among the finest young five-stringers to watch these days.
The vocal numbers include chestnuts like The Carter Family’s Just Another Broken Heart, given the perfect mournful sound by Junior Sisk, to new songs like One More Rocky Road, written and sung here by Daniel Salyer. The latter is a real tear-jerker, with a modern country flair, by this terrific singer/songwriter.
Jason’s bandmate in Rambler’s Choice, Jason Tomlin, contributes lead vocal on I’ll Be Waiting For You, and his brother Justin, who works with Nothin’ Fancy, sings Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart, a Hugh Prestwood song that was a hit for Randy Travis in 1990.
The record opens with Darrell Webb doing Bob Amos’ Where The Wild River Rolls, previously cut by Hot Rize and later by Amos himself. Webb shines on this bluesy lament, as does Dustin Pyrtle on Oh Death, given a slick, modern bluegrass treatment complete with low-tuned banjo, and some superb fiddle from Stewart and reso work from Swift.
Especially strong is the album’s first single, Bootleg John, sung by Shawn Lane with Steve Gulley adding harmony. Some mighty fine Stanley-style squealin’ on this one.
There’s not a weak track here, a credit to such a young musician as Jason Davis. In fact, aside from a few star turns, all the music is performed by the cream of the crop of the under-30 grassers in the VA/KY/NC/TN nexus. Very strong, and impressive.
Second Time Around isn’t officially released until July 9, but Jason has copies for sale now from his web site. Downloads are available as well from popular digital resellers.
After a full four years of recording and mixing as his schedule allowed, Mountain Heart mandolinist Aaron Ramsey has completed his new solo project, Gathering. Aaron had to find time for his own album amidst touring duties with the band, working on multiple records for other artists, and getting hitched to his new bride, Jordan Laney Ramsey.
Just shy of 30 years old, Aaron has built quite a reputation as a player and singer, working as part of Randy Kohrs’ & The Lites and The Linville Ridge Band before becoming part of Mountain Heart in December of 2007. Doing shows with Tony Rice won him a rave review in Tim Stafford and Caroline Wright’s biography of Rice, Still Inside, and persuaded the guitar hero to appear as a guest on this new CD.
Other performers include Ron Block, Stuart Duncan, Tim Crouch, Randy Kohrs, Patton Wages and more. Ramsey sings several of the tracks, with guest vocals from Rickey Wasson of American Drive and Mountain Heart’s Barry Abernathy.
Aaron shared a few words about Gathering, and a sampler with snippets from a number of the tracks.
“It’s really a gathering of a lot of the people and sounds that have made me love bluegrass music and allowed me to have my own identity as an artist. It is Cold on the Shoulder in spirit—it’s not that album, but Cold on the Shoulder was my inspiration and the spirit of this record.
I am really glad to get it out there and let people listen to it. I hope you all enjoy it.”
Six of the 12 tracks on Gathering are co-writes between Aaron and his dad, Mike, a life-long bluegrass musician himself. Others include the Osborne Brothers classic, One Tear, and Fare Thee Well, a Bob Dylan number brought into bluegrass some years ago by Tony Rice, on the aforementioned Cold On The Shoulder album.
Orders are being accepted now from Aaron’s web site, with all pre-orders being autographed and shipped by mid-January, at which time they will also be available at all Mountain Heart shows.
