Jason Barie Archives - Bluegrass Today

The Toolbox from Jason Barie

Billy Blue Records has a new single from fiddlin’ Jason Barie, also known on his recorded projects as The Ramblin’ Fiddler. We see him mostly these days performing with Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, but Jason is a recording artist in his own right, and becoming quite well known as a violin luthier as well.

For this third single from his most recent album, Radioactive, we get to experience Barie’s musical talents in a new way, as he steps up to sing the lead vocals for the first time.

The song is a Dennis Duff number called The Toolbox, which Jason says really hit him hard when he initially encountered it.

“The first time I heard this song, it was sung by Bradley Walker. I was in my car running some errands while off the road and home for a few days. I didn’t even make it halfway through the song when I started to tear up. I nearly had to pull off the road.

The subject of the song being that of your Dad’s tools and him passing them on to you, and the knowledge of how to use those tools, hit me square in the chest. I chose this song to sing because of the very reason in how much I can relate to the words.

When I hear the song it makes me think of my Dad, the time we spent together working on various projects, and him passing on some of his tools to me as I was starting my collection. But it’s not just a subject of dads and sons, this can also relate to any relationship where you learn and carry on the knowledge bestowed on you by a friend or loved one. I hope that you think of those people as you listen to my version of The Toolbox.”

In addition to sharing his vocals skills on The Toolbox, Barie plays the fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and bass on the track, with banjo supplied by Jesse Baker, and harmony vocals from Michael Rogers and Adam MacIntosh.

It’ll tug a bit at your heartstrings if you can see yourself in this song.

Have a listen…

The Toolbox, and the full Radioactive album, is available from popular download and streaming services online. Audio CDs can be purchased directly from the artist.

Radio programmers will find all the tracks at AirPlay Direct.

Radioactive – Jason Barie

Jason Barie’s 2019 release, Pieces, was highly regarded by bluegrass fans for its all-star guests, along with material that was firmly rooted in traditional stylings. Barie’s latest effort Radioactive successfully repeats that formula, but with an arguably stronger song selection than the previous project.

The recording opens with Calaveras County, one of several original tunes written by Jason. Featuring Barie alongside Michael Cleveland on twin fiddles, this track sets the stage for everything that is to come. With clawhammer banjo playing from Josiah Tyree, and additional instrumental support from resophonic guitarist Josh Swift and bassist Randy Barnes, this piece firmly defines Barie’s sense of traditionalism.

That’s Why You Left Me So Blue comes from the repertoire of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers. While the song was written and recorded by Paul Williams with the group in 1952, it’s sung here by Bobby Osborne, who was Williams’ predecessor in the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers. Unsurprisingly, Osborne delivers a great performance. This track also features Doyle Lawson on harmony vocals along with Jessie Baker on banjo, and Jason on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, percussion, and harmony vocals.

Although Keep A Memory comes from the pen of Carter Stanley, it’s performed here in the vein of a Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver song. Featuring Doyle on lead vocals and Russell Moore on tenor vocals, this track will be especially enjoyed by those who love the recordings Moore appeared on with Lawson in the 1980s. The instrumental backing is appropriately provided by Jessie Baker and Barie, who were part of Quicksilver in the early 2010s, giving this piece a truly authentic sound.

Darling Brown Eyes is another song from the Stanley canon. Performed here by Danny Davis and Don Rigsby, this is a powerful track, featuring incredible vocal harmony all throughout.

In The Garden highlights Jason Barie’s instrumental abilities. Featuring Barie on every instrument except bass by Randy Barnes, this familiar hymn is a beautiful example of the tone that Jason can pull from the fiddle.

I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name features the great Paul Williams on lead vocals. At eighty seven years of age, Williams still has a phenomenally clear voice. With tenor harmony from John Meador, this is another standout track.

The Toolbox, written by Dennis Duff, features Barie on lead vocals. A sentimental song about the rewards of hard work, Mike Rogers and Adam McIntosh’s harmony vocals comment Barie’s baritone voice really well.

Speaking of vocals, I Wish I Loved Somebody Else Not You features Tim Raybon singing all of the lead and harmony parts. While it does have more of a traditional country feel, it’s hard to imagine anyone else singing this song.

The project closes with the fast barn burner, Good Love Gets Better With Time. Featuring Jeff Parker and Jake Vanover on vocals, this track ends the recording in grand fashion. This song also features superb banjo playing from Joe Dean.

Radioactive is a project filled with energy and top tier picking and singing. Jason has once again gathered an excellent group of musicians and vocalists to present first rate material from beginning to end. This recording should not be overlooked!

Keep A Memory from Jason Barie, featuring Russell Moore and Doyle Lawson

Billy Blue Records has a new single for Jason Barie, fiddler with Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, who is also a well-regarded luthier and recording artist on his own. It’s a track from his upcoming full-length project, Radioactive, due later this month.

They have chosen a Carter Stanley classic, Keep A Memory, sung by Doyle Lawson and Russell Moore.

Jason says it was a treat to reunite with his former employer, and one of his favorite singers, in the studio.

“One of my favorite all time Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver lineups included Russell Moore and his distinguished vocal style. They set the bar high and influenced an entire generation of pickers and singers, myself being one of them. It is a dream come true to get my friend and old boss, Doyle Lawson, and my friend, Russell Moore, back together again to sing on this song. The magic of these two is still there.”

Russell returned the compliment, saying that the pleasure was all his.

“Billy Blue Records, Jerry Salley, and Jason Barie have a storied past producing some of the best bluegrass music to hit the airwaves recently! I’m honored to be a part of their latest endeavor and to be linked, again, to my former boss, Doyle Lawson, to create that classic sound of our vocals. I truly hope that everyone enjoys our collaboration on this classic Stanley Brothers’ song!!”

They have wisely chosen to record Keep A Memory in the same vein as the Stanleys, with the old time mountain sound. Jesse Baker plays banjo, and Jason takes care off the fiddles, mandolin, guitar, bass, and baritone vocal.

That’s the way Doyle likes it.

“It was a pure delight to record the lead vocal for Keep a Memory for Jason Barie’s new CD. Excellent instrument tracks that quickly put me into a Bluegrass state of mind!”

Have a listen…

Keep A Memory from Jason Barie, with Doyle Lawson and Russell Moore, is available now from popular download and streaming services online.

The full Radioactive project is expected on February 24.

That’s Why You Left Me So Blue – new single from Jason Barie

Billy Blue Records has released a new single for Jason Barie, fiddler with Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, the first since his Pieces album in 2019.

Jason had already established himself as a fiddler of note before joining up with Mullins in 2014. While still in high school, he won the Florida State Fiddle Championship, and began touring with popular Sunshine State group, Sand Mountain, as soon as he graduated. After four years with them, he moved to North Carolina and worked five years with Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, followed by a year as a free lancer which found him fiddling with The Churchmen, Bobby Osborne, and Jesse McReynolds. That led to two years with Larry Stephenson, and six with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.

His new single, That’s Why You Left Me So Blue, reprises a Paul Williams number from 1953, and marks the very first time that Bobby Osborne and Doyle Lawson have recorded together. Jason also arranged triple fiddles for this track, and played mandolin, guitar, and bass in the studio. Barie also sings the low tenor vocal, with Jesse Baker on banjo.

For Jason, the historic nature of pairing Doyle and Bobby for the vocal trio, isn’t lost on him.

“Putting together this song with these two legends, Bobby Osborne and Doyle Lawson, has been another dream come true. You’ll be hard pressed to find anyone any finer than these two gentlemen. All I can say is that it’s about time they are finally together on a studio recording.”

Kenny Baker’s notorious black fiddle, which he used for years with Bill Monroe, was one of the instruments Barie used for the triple fiddles, playing the melody part. It belongs to Bobby Osborne, who lent it to Barie for the sessions. Fiddle fans worldwide recognize that instrument from Kenny’s monumental recording, Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe.

Have a listen – it’s a good’n.

That’s Why You Left Me So Blue is available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers can obtain the track from AirPlay Direct.

Diary Of My Mind lyric video from Jason Barie

Billy Blue Records has released a lyric video for one of the vocal tracks from Jason Barie’s – aka The Ramblin’ Fiddler – terrific album, Pieces.

The vocals on this track, Diary Of My Mind, are provided by a pair of Jason’s fellow former Quicksilver bandmates, Mike Rogers and Corey Hensley. They turn in a fine reading of this George Jones classic from 1976, with Barie adding the requisite twin fiddles.

To make it easy to sing along, the words to the song are shown on screen, set against the album audio and a series of still images and video clips. But if you do, you’re not likely to outdo the Jonesy vocals already on the track.

Pieces is widely available wherever you stream or download music online, and on CD directly from Jason online.

Jason Barie – Ramblin’ Fiddler, and now fiddle maker

We’ve all known Jason Barie for his fiddle work over the years, spending time with Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, Larry Stephenson Band, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and now alongside Joe Mullins with the Radio Ramblers.

He got started with the fiddle as a youngster around Tampa, FL. He first learned to play the violin in 5th grade, but soon graduated to fiddle lessons at The Bluegrass Parlor. As a young adult, a taste of stage work came as a member of northeastern Florida’s popular Sand Mountain, before a move to Nashville to pursue music full time.

Jason released a very popular solo project last fall for Billy Blue Records, Jason Barie as the Ramblin’ Fiddler starring in Pieces, which featured both his original fiddle tunes and several guest vocalists on some classic bluegrass. His old boss Doyle Lawson took a turn, as did Paul Williams and Del McCoury, with a number of songs making it on to our Bluegrass Today Weekly Airplay chart.

But with almost all touring cancelled since March, Barie has used his time at home to focus on another passion from his youth, violin building. Woodworking in general appeals to him, and he built a nice deck on to the back of the home he shares with his wife and children as a COVID project. Jason seems to be the sort of guy who is able to tackle any new project and see it through to completion.

Those who follow him online know that Jason has been making some very ornate leather instrument straps of late, and he took some time yesterday to explain how his love of woodwork has developed into building violins.

“I have been doing violin and bow repair work for about 25 years now. It all started when my Dad and I would go looking for fiddles at yard sales, flea markets, and auctions. We would buy them, get them repaired, and resell them for a profit.

One day I decided that instead of sending them to the repair shop, that I wanted to try my hand at getting them playable again. I started with learning how to fit bridges. Bridges are inexpensive and if you mess one up you can throw it away and try again, and since it’s not attached to the violin, you haven’t done any harm to the instrument if you mess it up. As I progressed I bought more tools as I could afford them, and Mom and Dad would buy a few things each year as Christmas presents.

I’m self taught for the most part, and I learn by trial and error, by talking with other luthiers, watching videos, and reading articles and books on the subject. And now with the internet I watch YouTube videos and search through different forums on repair and building.

I had always wanted to build some of my own fiddles, and last year I finished my first one in October. For me it’s rather rewarding to create something out of raw materials that can be used to create music. But my building journey is also about finally having the one fiddle that fits me, fits my style, and to have the tone and playability in a fiddle that I’ll play the rest of my musical life. I’ve played a few like that, “the one,” but they were either way beyond what I could afford, or they weren’t for sale. So I thought I’ll try to build a few and see what happens.”

As an overachiever, Jason decided to attempt a carved head peghead on his very first build, which has turned into his primary gig and studio instrument. Now he is going for #2, also with a carved head stock.

“I’ve always been fond of the head carvings that are on some 1800’s French violins, and had always wanted one for my own. So with some experience in violin repair, as well as a cabinet making background, I thought I’ll try to make one of my own. I carved my first one by watching people on YouTube, and from reading three books, one about carving the human head and face, one about the anatomy of the face, and the third on drawing the head and face. I also do leather tooling and those designs are based on carving 3 dimensionally, knowing what’s going to be in the foreground and what’s the background. That helped me in being able to see what to carve away and what to leave in doing the fiddle heads. Most of the heads I carved were done while traveling in the bus in between gigs.”

Having the straps and violin repair has been very helpful for Barie since the band has been sidelined for several months.

“Since being home I really am doing what I mostly do during the middle of the week when not on the road, so not much has changed for me other than not traveling. I spend most days either working on customer fiddle and bow repairs, tooling leather goods such as guitar straps, doing home repairs, and building fiddles.”

If they keep turning out as well as this first, there is every reason to expect that Jason Barie will eventually be known as much for his fiddles as for his playing one.

For more information about Jason’s straps, violin and bow repair, or his hand-carved instruments, you can contact him online.

Honor Your Superhero with Jason Barie

Do you know what today is? It’s National Superhero Day, when we are encouraged to honor superheroes, both real and fictional. Young and old, we can most of us remember having a favorite comic book hero, be it Superman, Wonder Woman, Spiderman, or any of the other popular newsprint icons.

And of course we also have those flesh and blood people who we look up to for their dedication and service to others. They might be parents, or a friend, or a pastor who you see as an example worthy of following, or in the musical world, an artist whose recordings you admire greatly, or who you hope to emulate as a performer.

It could even be that guy who always stands out by the shopping center waving to everyone who goes by. We each have our own superhero scale, and method of choosing, but here’s a chance for you to salute them online.

Billy Blue Records has decided to honor National Superheroes Day through their own caped crusader, Jason Barie, aka The Ramblin’ Fiddler. You may recall that in the run up to his 2019 album release of that name, Jason released a very clever video in the comic book mode that portrayed the story of how The Ramblin’ Fiddler came to be.

Now, Jason and Billy Blue want to recognize your real life superhero. Barie has donated a special, hand-tooled leather guitar strap (valued at $400), which will be given away to one of the heroes suggested on Facebook.

Here’s how to put your favorite superhero forward to be recognized:

To enter, like the Billy Blue Records Facebook Page and look for the HONOR YOUR SUPERHERO post. Enter your nomination for the real superhero in your life by commenting with your story in the comments section of the post. Your superhero may be chosen to win this beautiful strap, and albums from all of our Billy Blue Records recording artists.

Nominations open 4/28/20 and end on 5/15/20. A winner will be announced on Monday, May 18. (Winner will be chosen by a panel from all entries posted. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.)

Jerry Salley, Creative and A&R Director of Billy Blue Records, says that Barie is the perfect artist to highlight in this way.

“Jason is a blessing to our label family, to music fans everywhere, and to the music community as a whole.”

So get on over to Facebook and be part of National Superheroes Day.

Pieces – Jason Barie

First… a bit of background…

According to his website, Jason Barie grew up in Florida, picked up his first fiddle at the age of 10, took classical music lessons beginning in the fifth grade, learned to play bluegrass at a local music store, and, by age 14, began playing in his first band. Soon after, he started competing in local fiddle competitions and eventually went on to be named Florida State Champion. After graduating from high school at 17, he landed his first national tour, playing in a Florida-based group called Sand Mountain.

Four years later, Barie landed a gig with Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road. He was with the group five years and then left to become a seasoned sideman, adding such prominent ensembles as The Churchmen, Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top Express, and Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys to his burgeoning resume. He played the Grand Ole Opry, enlisted as the first full-time fiddle player in Larry Stephenson’s band, and then spent six years performing as part of Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. That led to his current gig with Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers.

That’s quite a storied resume, but it all boils down to the fact that Barrie’s dedication to bluegrass has been a steady occupation since early on. While some artists are weaned on the sound but take off in different directions, Barrie’s never strayed from the roots he grew up on. That’s a rarity these days, but as his latest album Pieces demonstrates, he’s avoided any temptation to pursue music that might bring him more commercial consideration.

Evenly divided between instrumental forays and a select number of classic covers, this new effort finds Barie doling out an abundance of genuine fiddle frenzy, offering additional output on mandolin and guitar. To his credit, he enlists the assistance of others as well, including Del McCoury, Doyle Lawson, and a host of other veteran virtuosos. Whether it’s the swaying serenade he employs on Hank Williams’ I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, the clarity and conviction shared on a spate of traditional tunes, or an emotional take on the ever-enduring Ashokan Farewell, he varies the template with the reverence and dedication each offering clearly calls for. Several of the songs — Sasssafras, Sarah Jo, Diary of my Mind, and the aptly-named solo showcase The Rapido Kid among them — sound like archival examples of a hootenanny that gets folks up to the dance floor as part of a Saturday night celebration, given the festive frenzy and the uptempo treatment applied each of them offers.

Barie refers to himself as “The Ramblin’ Fiddler” and the handle is well deserved. Credit him for keeping his sensibilities intact and refusing to compromise his craft.

Pieces – Jason Barie

Credit Jason Barie, who operates here under the guise of The Ramblin’ Fiddler, for assembling a most impressive collection of singers and musicians for an album that pays homage to the origins of bluegrass and Americana music in general. Barie’s own notoriety may be limited by his sideman status, but as fiddler, producer, guitarist, bassist and mandolin player, he’s done a superb job, having recruited such talents as Doyle Lawson, Del McCoury, and Paul Williams, among the many, to share a selection of songs written by Barie, along with a number of traditional numbers of a distinctive vintage variety.

The range of material is impressive in itself — faithful covers of the old time Gospel favorite, Beyond the Sunset for Me, Hank Williams’ I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, Ashokan Farewell, and Carter Stanley’s We’ll Be Sweethearts in Heaven are all natural additives — but what’s even more impressive is the way Barie’s original songs seem to find such a fine fit alongside the standards. His wailing, fiddle fueled instrumentals Waiting on Isaac, Sarah Jo, Two Left Shoes, and Oak Grove Shuffle sound like they were borne from the mountains of Appalachia a century ago. Likewise, the lilting Adalynn’s Lullabye shares a sound and sensitivity that suggests Barie’s not only a master of form, but of finesse as well.

Of course, a mere reprisal of classic form and formula might limit Pieces’ appeal, but Barie’s imagining of this effort as a fantasy quest spawned from his own imagination — one about a boy who discovers a family heirloom in the form of a fiddle that’s been passed from generation to generation ,and discovers he’s a master of the rosin on a mission to take his talents to audiences near and far — heightens the appeal. It was inherent to that intent to get some of his heroes to contribute their skills, along with his own.

Thus, the story of the Ramblin’ Fiddler came to fruition.

Newcomers could consider it a primer when it comes to sharing the enduring legacy of bluegrass. Those familiar with the form will find it a study in abject appreciation. Either way, Barie’s devotion and diligence make for a concise combination, the result of lessons well learned.

Ultimately, these Pieces provide a valuable proviso for novices and aficionados alike.

Jason Barie as The Ramblin’ Fiddler, part II

Back in July, we shared a clever video which Jason Barie had released that told a fantastic story about a special fiddle that came from outer space. The project was filmed and edited by Joe Dean, banjo player with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and drew heavily on the legend of Superman.

Now we have part two of the story, about a magical cake of rosin that will allow the pure of heart to play with ease.

Both videos were created as promotions for Jason’s new album, Pieces, available now from Billy Blue Records. It features an all-star cast of super pickers and singers on a set of classics and new compositions from Barie, currently the fiddler with Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers.

Look for Pieces, or in its full title, Jason Barie as the Ramblin’ Fiddler starring in Pieces, wherever you purchase, stream, or download music online. The first single from the record, a grassy version of I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, with vocals from Paul Williams and Del McCoury, has spent the past few weeks open our Bluegrass Today Weekly Airplay chart.