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Crystal joins Noah Brown on bass, Tony Brown on banjo, Duane Compton on mandolin and Scott Patrick on guitar. Collins fronts the group and handles the lead singing.
This southwest Virginia outfit is a new venture for Amber, who has recorded and toured previously under her own name and with No Speed Limit. Her signature aggressive vocals are demonstrated nicely in this recent live video, which features an AKUS cover and a new original song.
This first was an intensive songwriter’s workshop, hosted by Ronnie Bowman and Dan Tyminski in mid-August. It was designed as a full-immersion songwriting experience, and special consideration was given to young songwriters with an interest in bluegrass music. The class contained just over a songwriters, who spent the weekend together in the NC woods.
These events are the brainchild of Henri Deschamps, a successful businessman and music lover who is using his expertise and business acumen during his “retirement” to help up-and-coming bluegrass artists develop their talents. He means to hold other small session seminars at Mast Farm Inn, a bed and breakfast he and his wife operate in Valle Crucis, NC.
In discussions, Henri exudes a sincerity and passion for the music and the people who dedicate their lives to it, and can be nothing but an asset to bluegrass. He spent a career in textbook publishing, and has a wealth of knowledge about instructional methods and publicity that he is willing to share. For example, he will help lead an IBMA Professional Development seminar in November on Creating Strategic Alliances on Facebook.
Though the songwriting workshop in August was kept to a minimal number, Deschamps tapped Nashville videographer (and IBMA Board member) Craig Havighurst to produce a record of the event. The result is The Mast Farm Inn Sessions (A Study In Songwriting), a 25 minute documentary crafted in a journalistic style. Henri footed the bill, but is making the video available online – you catch watch it below.
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On his web site, Craig mused a bit about what a joy it was to create this film, and what an important part of the music it portrayed.
“My own sense of mission about this film was strong from the start. I wanted to try to capture one of the finest things I’ve come to know about bluegrass, and that is its giving, pass-the-knowledge kind of culture. At one point Scott in the film says that there can be an exclusive club-like quality to certain picking circles of cliques of musicians. And that can be true, but I think everyone including him would agree that there’s also a vast amount of information sharing and inspiration passing that goes on in the community. I am on the board of directors of the International Bluegrass Music Association because I think so highly about the bluegrass business and community and the music’s place in our culture. This film was in no way sanctioned by the IBMA. They haven’t even seen it. But I would like to dedicate the film to IBMA’s mission of perpetuating bluegrass music across borders and generations. I think you’ll agree that with teachers and learners this passionate and sincere, that will be going on for a long time to come.”
A tip of the hat to Deschamps for his vision, to Ronnie and Dan for their willingness to share, and to Craig for presenting it unfiltered for everyone to enjoy.
A video of Amber covering Gravity (John Mayer) has just been posted, from an October 9 performance in Abingdon, VA. She is accompanied by Josh Pickett and Eddy Day on guitars.
No… it’s not bluegrass, but it sure is good singing.
Nice job, Amber.
Amber is a strong singer, in the process of developing a distinctive style all her own. Her voice is pitched high, closer to a true soprano than has been common in bluegrass of late, and it makes for a sound refreshingly outside the modern grass mainstream. She is given to “Reba-like” vowel sounds, another trait we hear only rarely in the bluegrass realm.
You can hear what I mean (on both counts) in the opening track, a reworking of a classic folk ballad.
Darling Corey: [http://traffic.libsyn.com/thegrasscast/darlin_corey.mp3]
The bulk of the CD was recorded with No Speed Limit: Josh Pickett on guitar, Josh Underwood on banjo, Duane Compton on mandolin and Dustin Pyrtle on bass. Jody King guests on banjo as does Ryan Blevins on mandolin and Jacob Eller on bass.
The one track that really stands out – and is likely to get Amber a great deal of attention – is Rosemary, which tells of a true love that endures beyond war and death. It’s a special song, written by Josh Pickett, and Amber agrees that it is the album’s high point, while noting the oddity of singing a song so beyond her own experience.
“Neither Josh or I can relate directly to this story lyrically, and I always try to relate to any song I’m singing. The song is really unique, and we were shocked that it came out so well. I guess we just put so much thought into arranging it, and worked so hard to relate with the lyrics… and it really paid off!” Rosemary: [http://traffic.libsyn.com/thegrasscast/rosemary.mp3]
It’s a fine tribute both to Pickett for his fine songwriting and lovely guitar work, and to Collins who does a marvelous job interpreting the song. Let’s hope it gets the recognition it deserves.
“Josh and I have been playing together so long, and we always want to play what expresses our personality. That’s what I wanted to demonstrate with this record. And I think we did; it shows who we are.”
You can order the CD from the band’s web site, and radio programmers can request a promo copy by email.
Amber tells us that No Speed Limit is about to start on a new band project, and said that it was possible that a couple of tracks from On The Corner might be included. Perhaps it will also contain their version of Shady Grove, which they recorded for YouTube.
