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Big ol’ thanks to @songlinesmagazine and @hearth_music for making “Where We Go” a Top of the World pick in the new issue, for listening and writing with care and thought, and especially for this:

“The album unfurls with the easy, lazy pace of a rumbling river.”

File this album under rumbly rivercore.

Oh hey it’s Bandcamp Friday. Link in the usual spot 👀

Big ol’ thanks to @songlinesmagazine and @hearth_music for making “Where We Go” a Top of the World pick in the new issue, for listening and writing with care and thought, and especially for this:

“The album unfurls with the easy, lazy pace of a rumbling river.”

File this album under rumbly rivercore.

Oh hey it’s Bandcamp Friday. Link in the usual spot 👀

I made an album and it’s out today! I loved making this music together with some incredible humans and in it I hear all the reasons I love what I do. Empathy, vulnerability, connection, beauty, imperfection, occasional transcendence. These are sounds of better times than the ones we are living in but it’s a nice place to hang for bit.

Listen at the link in bio.

Produced by @johnmailander

Jesse - mandolin & vocals
@samiiiiib - fiddle
@eliandwest - guitar, octave mando, vocals
@em.fiddle - bass & vocals

With appearances by:
@allison_de_groot
@aissajlee
@laurielewismusic
@kathykallickband
@reebwillms
@calebklauder
@johnmailander
@witcher.mike
@raudabaugh1
Jeff Taylor

Recorded and mixed by @seansullivanaudio
Mastered by @mike.monseur

Cover art and design by @lbichan

Session photos by @emmamccouryphotography

I made an album and it’s out today! I loved making this music together with some incredible humans and in it I hear all the reasons I love what I do. Empathy, vulnerability, connection, beauty, imperfection, occasional transcendence. These are sounds of better times than the ones we are living in but it’s a nice place to hang for bit.

Listen at the link in bio.

Produced by @johnmailander

Jesse - mandolin & vocals
@samiiiiib - fiddle
@eliandwest - guitar, octave mando, vocals
@em.fiddle - bass & vocals

With appearances by:
@allison_de_groot
@aissajlee
@laurielewismusic
@kathykallickband
@reebwillms
@calebklauder
@johnmailander
@witcher.mike
@raudabaugh1
Jeff Taylor

Recorded and mixed by @seansullivanaudio
Mastered by @mike.monseur

Cover art and design by @lbichan

Session photos by @emmamccouryphotography

I made an album and it’s out today! I loved making this music together with some incredible humans and in it I hear all the reasons I love what I do. Empathy, vulnerability, connection, beauty, imperfection, occasional transcendence. These are sounds of better times than the ones we are living in but it’s a nice place to hang for bit.

Listen at the link in bio.

Produced by @johnmailander

Jesse - mandolin & vocals
@samiiiiib - fiddle
@eliandwest - guitar, octave mando, vocals
@em.fiddle - bass & vocals

With appearances by:
@allison_de_groot
@aissajlee
@laurielewismusic
@kathykallickband
@reebwillms
@calebklauder
@johnmailander
@witcher.mike
@raudabaugh1
Jeff Taylor

Recorded and mixed by @seansullivanaudio
Mastered by @mike.monseur

Cover art and design by @lbichan

Session photos by @emmamccouryphotography

I made an album and it’s out today! I loved making this music together with some incredible humans and in it I hear all the reasons I love what I do. Empathy, vulnerability, connection, beauty, imperfection, occasional transcendence. These are sounds of better times than the ones we are living in but it’s a nice place to hang for bit.

Listen at the link in bio.

Produced by @johnmailander

Jesse - mandolin & vocals
@samiiiiib - fiddle
@eliandwest - guitar, octave mando, vocals
@em.fiddle - bass & vocals

With appearances by:
@allison_de_groot
@aissajlee
@laurielewismusic
@kathykallickband
@reebwillms
@calebklauder
@johnmailander
@witcher.mike
@raudabaugh1
Jeff Taylor

Recorded and mixed by @seansullivanaudio
Mastered by @mike.monseur

Cover art and design by @lbichan

Session photos by @emmamccouryphotography

I made an album and it’s out today! I loved making this music together with some incredible humans and in it I hear all the reasons I love what I do. Empathy, vulnerability, connection, beauty, imperfection, occasional transcendence. These are sounds of better times than the ones we are living in but it’s a nice place to hang for bit.

Listen at the link in bio.

Produced by @johnmailander

Jesse - mandolin & vocals
@samiiiiib - fiddle
@eliandwest - guitar, octave mando, vocals
@em.fiddle - bass & vocals

With appearances by:
@allison_de_groot
@aissajlee
@laurielewismusic
@kathykallickband
@reebwillms
@calebklauder
@johnmailander
@witcher.mike
@raudabaugh1
Jeff Taylor

Recorded and mixed by @seansullivanaudio
Mastered by @mike.monseur

Cover art and design by @lbichan

Session photos by @emmamccouryphotography

I made an album and it’s out today! I loved making this music together with some incredible humans and in it I hear all the reasons I love what I do. Empathy, vulnerability, connection, beauty, imperfection, occasional transcendence. These are sounds of better times than the ones we are living in but it’s a nice place to hang for bit.

Listen at the link in bio.

Produced by @johnmailander

Jesse - mandolin & vocals
@samiiiiib - fiddle
@eliandwest - guitar, octave mando, vocals
@em.fiddle - bass & vocals

With appearances by:
@allison_de_groot
@aissajlee
@laurielewismusic
@kathykallickband
@reebwillms
@calebklauder
@johnmailander
@witcher.mike
@raudabaugh1
Jeff Taylor

Recorded and mixed by @seansullivanaudio
Mastered by @mike.monseur

Cover art and design by @lbichan

Session photos by @emmamccouryphotography

Really nice of @jessejharpermusic to write these tasty chord changes for me to ruminate on. Moo!

Just one of many beautiful moments making sounds this weekend with @samgrismanproject and a slew of mostly-brand-new friends.

Such a beautiful weekend amidst friends, family, and song at @sierragrassfestival. Huge thanks to @ajleebluesummit for throwing this party, my @westcoaststringband bandmates for crushing it, and to all the musicians (you know who you are) for setting the bar so dang high with your creativity and spirit.

Next up, @darkstarjubilee and then @delfest and then Grass Valley, here we go!

📸:
1 & 12 @jstrausser.visuals
2-7 @trinphrose

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @markschatzmusic @mrfiddler1 @mgonigle @aissajlee @calebklauder @reebwillms @brad.wagner.video

Such a beautiful weekend amidst friends, family, and song at @sierragrassfestival. Huge thanks to @ajleebluesummit for throwing this party, my @westcoaststringband bandmates for crushing it, and to all the musicians (you know who you are) for setting the bar so dang high with your creativity and spirit.

Next up, @darkstarjubilee and then @delfest and then Grass Valley, here we go!

📸:
1 & 12 @jstrausser.visuals
2-7 @trinphrose

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @markschatzmusic @mrfiddler1 @mgonigle @aissajlee @calebklauder @reebwillms @brad.wagner.video

Such a beautiful weekend amidst friends, family, and song at @sierragrassfestival. Huge thanks to @ajleebluesummit for throwing this party, my @westcoaststringband bandmates for crushing it, and to all the musicians (you know who you are) for setting the bar so dang high with your creativity and spirit.

Next up, @darkstarjubilee and then @delfest and then Grass Valley, here we go!

📸:
1 & 12 @jstrausser.visuals
2-7 @trinphrose

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @markschatzmusic @mrfiddler1 @mgonigle @aissajlee @calebklauder @reebwillms @brad.wagner.video

Such a beautiful weekend amidst friends, family, and song at @sierragrassfestival. Huge thanks to @ajleebluesummit for throwing this party, my @westcoaststringband bandmates for crushing it, and to all the musicians (you know who you are) for setting the bar so dang high with your creativity and spirit.

Next up, @darkstarjubilee and then @delfest and then Grass Valley, here we go!

📸:
1 & 12 @jstrausser.visuals
2-7 @trinphrose

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @markschatzmusic @mrfiddler1 @mgonigle @aissajlee @calebklauder @reebwillms @brad.wagner.video

Such a beautiful weekend amidst friends, family, and song at @sierragrassfestival. Huge thanks to @ajleebluesummit for throwing this party, my @westcoaststringband bandmates for crushing it, and to all the musicians (you know who you are) for setting the bar so dang high with your creativity and spirit.

Next up, @darkstarjubilee and then @delfest and then Grass Valley, here we go!

📸:
1 & 12 @jstrausser.visuals
2-7 @trinphrose

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @markschatzmusic @mrfiddler1 @mgonigle @aissajlee @calebklauder @reebwillms @brad.wagner.video

Such a beautiful weekend amidst friends, family, and song at @sierragrassfestival. Huge thanks to @ajleebluesummit for throwing this party, my @westcoaststringband bandmates for crushing it, and to all the musicians (you know who you are) for setting the bar so dang high with your creativity and spirit.

Next up, @darkstarjubilee and then @delfest and then Grass Valley, here we go!

📸:
1 & 12 @jstrausser.visuals
2-7 @trinphrose

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @markschatzmusic @mrfiddler1 @mgonigle @aissajlee @calebklauder @reebwillms @brad.wagner.video

Such a beautiful weekend amidst friends, family, and song at @sierragrassfestival. Huge thanks to @ajleebluesummit for throwing this party, my @westcoaststringband bandmates for crushing it, and to all the musicians (you know who you are) for setting the bar so dang high with your creativity and spirit.

Next up, @darkstarjubilee and then @delfest and then Grass Valley, here we go!

📸:
1 & 12 @jstrausser.visuals
2-7 @trinphrose

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @markschatzmusic @mrfiddler1 @mgonigle @aissajlee @calebklauder @reebwillms @brad.wagner.video

Such a beautiful weekend amidst friends, family, and song at @sierragrassfestival. Huge thanks to @ajleebluesummit for throwing this party, my @westcoaststringband bandmates for crushing it, and to all the musicians (you know who you are) for setting the bar so dang high with your creativity and spirit.

Next up, @darkstarjubilee and then @delfest and then Grass Valley, here we go!

📸:
1 & 12 @jstrausser.visuals
2-7 @trinphrose

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @markschatzmusic @mrfiddler1 @mgonigle @aissajlee @calebklauder @reebwillms @brad.wagner.video

Such a beautiful weekend amidst friends, family, and song at @sierragrassfestival. Huge thanks to @ajleebluesummit for throwing this party, my @westcoaststringband bandmates for crushing it, and to all the musicians (you know who you are) for setting the bar so dang high with your creativity and spirit.

Next up, @darkstarjubilee and then @delfest and then Grass Valley, here we go!

📸:
1 & 12 @jstrausser.visuals
2-7 @trinphrose

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @markschatzmusic @mrfiddler1 @mgonigle @aissajlee @calebklauder @reebwillms @brad.wagner.video

Such a beautiful weekend amidst friends, family, and song at @sierragrassfestival. Huge thanks to @ajleebluesummit for throwing this party, my @westcoaststringband bandmates for crushing it, and to all the musicians (you know who you are) for setting the bar so dang high with your creativity and spirit.

Next up, @darkstarjubilee and then @delfest and then Grass Valley, here we go!

📸:
1 & 12 @jstrausser.visuals
2-7 @trinphrose

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @markschatzmusic @mrfiddler1 @mgonigle @aissajlee @calebklauder @reebwillms @brad.wagner.video

Such a beautiful weekend amidst friends, family, and song at @sierragrassfestival. Huge thanks to @ajleebluesummit for throwing this party, my @westcoaststringband bandmates for crushing it, and to all the musicians (you know who you are) for setting the bar so dang high with your creativity and spirit.

Next up, @darkstarjubilee and then @delfest and then Grass Valley, here we go!

📸:
1 & 12 @jstrausser.visuals
2-7 @trinphrose

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @markschatzmusic @mrfiddler1 @mgonigle @aissajlee @calebklauder @reebwillms @brad.wagner.video

Such a beautiful weekend amidst friends, family, and song at @sierragrassfestival. Huge thanks to @ajleebluesummit for throwing this party, my @westcoaststringband bandmates for crushing it, and to all the musicians (you know who you are) for setting the bar so dang high with your creativity and spirit.

Next up, @darkstarjubilee and then @delfest and then Grass Valley, here we go!

📸:
1 & 12 @jstrausser.visuals
2-7 @trinphrose

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @markschatzmusic @mrfiddler1 @mgonigle @aissajlee @calebklauder @reebwillms @brad.wagner.video

I guess it’s still spring but summer rolls on: getting ready for a big Memorial Day (and birthday) weekend with @samgrismanproject + @peterrowanmusic at @delfest and @darkstarjubilee

May 22 @darkstarjubilee Thornville OH
May 23-24 @delfest Cumberland MD

I guess it’s still spring but summer rolls on: getting ready for a big Memorial Day (and birthday) weekend with @samgrismanproject + @peterrowanmusic at @delfest and @darkstarjubilee

May 22 @darkstarjubilee Thornville OH
May 23-24 @delfest Cumberland MD

I guess it’s still spring but summer rolls on: getting ready for a big Memorial Day (and birthday) weekend with @samgrismanproject + @peterrowanmusic at @delfest and @darkstarjubilee

May 22 @darkstarjubilee Thornville OH
May 23-24 @delfest Cumberland MD

The sounds of impending @samgrismanproject tour

🐶

May 22 @darkstarjubilee
May 23-24 @delfest
June 20 Grass Valley @californiabluegrass

It’s that time of year again and I am feeling the gratitudes about all the awesome humans I get to make some music with this summer (incomplete list below!).

Here’s what’s on the docket for now, with more to be announced. It’s pickin’ season, time to deplete the sleep tank to fill the music tank! First stop @sierragrassfestival this weekend, see ya there?

West Coast Stringband Project
May 1-2 - Sierragrass - Awanhee, CA

Sam Grisman Project:
May 22 - Dark Star Jubilee - OH (Peter Rowan w/ SGP)
May 23-24 - DelFest - MD
(Peter Rowan w/SGP + Sam Grisman Quintet sets)
June 18-21 - Fathers’ Day Bluegrass Fest - Grass Valley CA

The Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick Band:
July 11 - Cline Country Bluegrass Fest - Sonoma, CA
August 15 - McCloud River B&B - McCloud, CA

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @christinewilhoyte @mrfiddler1 @markschatzmusic @samgrismanproject @sgrisman @dirtbanjo @maxflansburg @tod_patrick_livingston @johnmailander @peterrowanmusic @chadmanning5 #patricksauber @kallickkathy @laurielewismusic #anniestaninec @leahwollenberg @delfest @darkstarjubilee @californiabluegrass

📸:
@westcoaststringband pic by @bethm2345
@samgrismanproject pic by @susanamillman
@laurielewismusic @kallickkathy band pic by @lisabermandesign

It’s that time of year again and I am feeling the gratitudes about all the awesome humans I get to make some music with this summer (incomplete list below!).

Here’s what’s on the docket for now, with more to be announced. It’s pickin’ season, time to deplete the sleep tank to fill the music tank! First stop @sierragrassfestival this weekend, see ya there?

West Coast Stringband Project
May 1-2 - Sierragrass - Awanhee, CA

Sam Grisman Project:
May 22 - Dark Star Jubilee - OH (Peter Rowan w/ SGP)
May 23-24 - DelFest - MD
(Peter Rowan w/SGP + Sam Grisman Quintet sets)
June 18-21 - Fathers’ Day Bluegrass Fest - Grass Valley CA

The Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick Band:
July 11 - Cline Country Bluegrass Fest - Sonoma, CA
August 15 - McCloud River B&B - McCloud, CA

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @christinewilhoyte @mrfiddler1 @markschatzmusic @samgrismanproject @sgrisman @dirtbanjo @maxflansburg @tod_patrick_livingston @johnmailander @peterrowanmusic @chadmanning5 #patricksauber @kallickkathy @laurielewismusic #anniestaninec @leahwollenberg @delfest @darkstarjubilee @californiabluegrass

📸:
@westcoaststringband pic by @bethm2345
@samgrismanproject pic by @susanamillman
@laurielewismusic @kallickkathy band pic by @lisabermandesign

It’s that time of year again and I am feeling the gratitudes about all the awesome humans I get to make some music with this summer (incomplete list below!).

Here’s what’s on the docket for now, with more to be announced. It’s pickin’ season, time to deplete the sleep tank to fill the music tank! First stop @sierragrassfestival this weekend, see ya there?

West Coast Stringband Project
May 1-2 - Sierragrass - Awanhee, CA

Sam Grisman Project:
May 22 - Dark Star Jubilee - OH (Peter Rowan w/ SGP)
May 23-24 - DelFest - MD
(Peter Rowan w/SGP + Sam Grisman Quintet sets)
June 18-21 - Fathers’ Day Bluegrass Fest - Grass Valley CA

The Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick Band:
July 11 - Cline Country Bluegrass Fest - Sonoma, CA
August 15 - McCloud River B&B - McCloud, CA

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @christinewilhoyte @mrfiddler1 @markschatzmusic @samgrismanproject @sgrisman @dirtbanjo @maxflansburg @tod_patrick_livingston @johnmailander @peterrowanmusic @chadmanning5 #patricksauber @kallickkathy @laurielewismusic #anniestaninec @leahwollenberg @delfest @darkstarjubilee @californiabluegrass

📸:
@westcoaststringband pic by @bethm2345
@samgrismanproject pic by @susanamillman
@laurielewismusic @kallickkathy band pic by @lisabermandesign

It’s that time of year again and I am feeling the gratitudes about all the awesome humans I get to make some music with this summer (incomplete list below!).

Here’s what’s on the docket for now, with more to be announced. It’s pickin’ season, time to deplete the sleep tank to fill the music tank! First stop @sierragrassfestival this weekend, see ya there?

West Coast Stringband Project
May 1-2 - Sierragrass - Awanhee, CA

Sam Grisman Project:
May 22 - Dark Star Jubilee - OH (Peter Rowan w/ SGP)
May 23-24 - DelFest - MD
(Peter Rowan w/SGP + Sam Grisman Quintet sets)
June 18-21 - Fathers’ Day Bluegrass Fest - Grass Valley CA

The Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick Band:
July 11 - Cline Country Bluegrass Fest - Sonoma, CA
August 15 - McCloud River B&B - McCloud, CA

@westcoaststringband @yotuck @christinewilhoyte @mrfiddler1 @markschatzmusic @samgrismanproject @sgrisman @dirtbanjo @maxflansburg @tod_patrick_livingston @johnmailander @peterrowanmusic @chadmanning5 #patricksauber @kallickkathy @laurielewismusic #anniestaninec @leahwollenberg @delfest @darkstarjubilee @californiabluegrass

📸:
@westcoaststringband pic by @bethm2345
@samgrismanproject pic by @susanamillman
@laurielewismusic @kallickkathy band pic by @lisabermandesign

It’s time for the album promo phase that I have been most looking forward to: the part where I try to embarrass everyone involved in making “Where We Go” by saying nice things about them.

This album was minimally arranged and mostly unscripted and a co-creation of everyone in the room, so consider this part of my probably-lifelong gratitude campaign towards the team. These posts are gonna trickle out slowly as I get to them.

I’ll start with the captain: @johnmailander

From the earliest stages of this project I knew I wanted a producer on board who would understand the vision, share core musical priorities, and bring the deep studio experience that I lack. Anyone who knows John will already know why he was the right person.

I met John more than 16 years ago in a stairwell jam at the Cantab Lounge in Boston and even back then, his taste, restraint, humility, and constant orientation towards lifting up the music as a whole were present. His music to me always seems more interested in interaction and atmosphere than cleverness and exposition.

John brought these musical and human attributes to the studio with quiet force. I can’t begin to list all the “small” ideas he had - a chord substitution here, an extra beat there - and the outsized impact they had on the music. Or how he always had the right few words to steer us towards the energy and feeling that each tune needed. Or the way knew how to get the best music out of us in 4 or 5 takes. Or how he gently pushed me away from my minimalist leanings to add extra layers here and there - drums on a couple tunes, accordion on one, slide guitar on another - and of course he was right every time.

I could go on, and if you catch me in person sometime I will be happy to. If you haven’t listened to John’s Forecast project, it’s some of my favorite music out there. Go find it, and keep an eye out for John on the road this year with @brucehornsby 

🎶: John’s triple fiddle arrangement on “First Notes”
📸: @emmamccouryphotography and me

It’s time for the album promo phase that I have been most looking forward to: the part where I try to embarrass everyone involved in making “Where We Go” by saying nice things about them.

This album was minimally arranged and mostly unscripted and a co-creation of everyone in the room, so consider this part of my probably-lifelong gratitude campaign towards the team. These posts are gonna trickle out slowly as I get to them.

I’ll start with the captain: @johnmailander

From the earliest stages of this project I knew I wanted a producer on board who would understand the vision, share core musical priorities, and bring the deep studio experience that I lack. Anyone who knows John will already know why he was the right person.

I met John more than 16 years ago in a stairwell jam at the Cantab Lounge in Boston and even back then, his taste, restraint, humility, and constant orientation towards lifting up the music as a whole were present. His music to me always seems more interested in interaction and atmosphere than cleverness and exposition.

John brought these musical and human attributes to the studio with quiet force. I can’t begin to list all the “small” ideas he had - a chord substitution here, an extra beat there - and the outsized impact they had on the music. Or how he always had the right few words to steer us towards the energy and feeling that each tune needed. Or the way knew how to get the best music out of us in 4 or 5 takes. Or how he gently pushed me away from my minimalist leanings to add extra layers here and there - drums on a couple tunes, accordion on one, slide guitar on another - and of course he was right every time.

I could go on, and if you catch me in person sometime I will be happy to. If you haven’t listened to John’s Forecast project, it’s some of my favorite music out there. Go find it, and keep an eye out for John on the road this year with @brucehornsby 

🎶: John’s triple fiddle arrangement on “First Notes”
📸: @emmamccouryphotography and me

It’s time for the album promo phase that I have been most looking forward to: the part where I try to embarrass everyone involved in making “Where We Go” by saying nice things about them.

This album was minimally arranged and mostly unscripted and a co-creation of everyone in the room, so consider this part of my probably-lifelong gratitude campaign towards the team. These posts are gonna trickle out slowly as I get to them.

I’ll start with the captain: @johnmailander

From the earliest stages of this project I knew I wanted a producer on board who would understand the vision, share core musical priorities, and bring the deep studio experience that I lack. Anyone who knows John will already know why he was the right person.

I met John more than 16 years ago in a stairwell jam at the Cantab Lounge in Boston and even back then, his taste, restraint, humility, and constant orientation towards lifting up the music as a whole were present. His music to me always seems more interested in interaction and atmosphere than cleverness and exposition.

John brought these musical and human attributes to the studio with quiet force. I can’t begin to list all the “small” ideas he had - a chord substitution here, an extra beat there - and the outsized impact they had on the music. Or how he always had the right few words to steer us towards the energy and feeling that each tune needed. Or the way knew how to get the best music out of us in 4 or 5 takes. Or how he gently pushed me away from my minimalist leanings to add extra layers here and there - drums on a couple tunes, accordion on one, slide guitar on another - and of course he was right every time.

I could go on, and if you catch me in person sometime I will be happy to. If you haven’t listened to John’s Forecast project, it’s some of my favorite music out there. Go find it, and keep an eye out for John on the road this year with @brucehornsby 

🎶: John’s triple fiddle arrangement on “First Notes”
📸: @emmamccouryphotography and me

It’s time for the album promo phase that I have been most looking forward to: the part where I try to embarrass everyone involved in making “Where We Go” by saying nice things about them.

This album was minimally arranged and mostly unscripted and a co-creation of everyone in the room, so consider this part of my probably-lifelong gratitude campaign towards the team. These posts are gonna trickle out slowly as I get to them.

I’ll start with the captain: @johnmailander

From the earliest stages of this project I knew I wanted a producer on board who would understand the vision, share core musical priorities, and bring the deep studio experience that I lack. Anyone who knows John will already know why he was the right person.

I met John more than 16 years ago in a stairwell jam at the Cantab Lounge in Boston and even back then, his taste, restraint, humility, and constant orientation towards lifting up the music as a whole were present. His music to me always seems more interested in interaction and atmosphere than cleverness and exposition.

John brought these musical and human attributes to the studio with quiet force. I can’t begin to list all the “small” ideas he had - a chord substitution here, an extra beat there - and the outsized impact they had on the music. Or how he always had the right few words to steer us towards the energy and feeling that each tune needed. Or the way knew how to get the best music out of us in 4 or 5 takes. Or how he gently pushed me away from my minimalist leanings to add extra layers here and there - drums on a couple tunes, accordion on one, slide guitar on another - and of course he was right every time.

I could go on, and if you catch me in person sometime I will be happy to. If you haven’t listened to John’s Forecast project, it’s some of my favorite music out there. Go find it, and keep an eye out for John on the road this year with @brucehornsby 

🎶: John’s triple fiddle arrangement on “First Notes”
📸: @emmamccouryphotography and me

It’s time for the album promo phase that I have been most looking forward to: the part where I try to embarrass everyone involved in making “Where We Go” by saying nice things about them.

This album was minimally arranged and mostly unscripted and a co-creation of everyone in the room, so consider this part of my probably-lifelong gratitude campaign towards the team. These posts are gonna trickle out slowly as I get to them.

I’ll start with the captain: @johnmailander

From the earliest stages of this project I knew I wanted a producer on board who would understand the vision, share core musical priorities, and bring the deep studio experience that I lack. Anyone who knows John will already know why he was the right person.

I met John more than 16 years ago in a stairwell jam at the Cantab Lounge in Boston and even back then, his taste, restraint, humility, and constant orientation towards lifting up the music as a whole were present. His music to me always seems more interested in interaction and atmosphere than cleverness and exposition.

John brought these musical and human attributes to the studio with quiet force. I can’t begin to list all the “small” ideas he had - a chord substitution here, an extra beat there - and the outsized impact they had on the music. Or how he always had the right few words to steer us towards the energy and feeling that each tune needed. Or the way knew how to get the best music out of us in 4 or 5 takes. Or how he gently pushed me away from my minimalist leanings to add extra layers here and there - drums on a couple tunes, accordion on one, slide guitar on another - and of course he was right every time.

I could go on, and if you catch me in person sometime I will be happy to. If you haven’t listened to John’s Forecast project, it’s some of my favorite music out there. Go find it, and keep an eye out for John on the road this year with @brucehornsby 

🎶: John’s triple fiddle arrangement on “First Notes”
📸: @emmamccouryphotography and me

It’s time for the album promo phase that I have been most looking forward to: the part where I try to embarrass everyone involved in making “Where We Go” by saying nice things about them.

This album was minimally arranged and mostly unscripted and a co-creation of everyone in the room, so consider this part of my probably-lifelong gratitude campaign towards the team. These posts are gonna trickle out slowly as I get to them.

I’ll start with the captain: @johnmailander

From the earliest stages of this project I knew I wanted a producer on board who would understand the vision, share core musical priorities, and bring the deep studio experience that I lack. Anyone who knows John will already know why he was the right person.

I met John more than 16 years ago in a stairwell jam at the Cantab Lounge in Boston and even back then, his taste, restraint, humility, and constant orientation towards lifting up the music as a whole were present. His music to me always seems more interested in interaction and atmosphere than cleverness and exposition.

John brought these musical and human attributes to the studio with quiet force. I can’t begin to list all the “small” ideas he had - a chord substitution here, an extra beat there - and the outsized impact they had on the music. Or how he always had the right few words to steer us towards the energy and feeling that each tune needed. Or the way knew how to get the best music out of us in 4 or 5 takes. Or how he gently pushed me away from my minimalist leanings to add extra layers here and there - drums on a couple tunes, accordion on one, slide guitar on another - and of course he was right every time.

I could go on, and if you catch me in person sometime I will be happy to. If you haven’t listened to John’s Forecast project, it’s some of my favorite music out there. Go find it, and keep an eye out for John on the road this year with @brucehornsby 

🎶: John’s triple fiddle arrangement on “First Notes”
📸: @emmamccouryphotography and me

It’s time for the album promo phase that I have been most looking forward to: the part where I try to embarrass everyone involved in making “Where We Go” by saying nice things about them.

This album was minimally arranged and mostly unscripted and a co-creation of everyone in the room, so consider this part of my probably-lifelong gratitude campaign towards the team. These posts are gonna trickle out slowly as I get to them.

I’ll start with the captain: @johnmailander

From the earliest stages of this project I knew I wanted a producer on board who would understand the vision, share core musical priorities, and bring the deep studio experience that I lack. Anyone who knows John will already know why he was the right person.

I met John more than 16 years ago in a stairwell jam at the Cantab Lounge in Boston and even back then, his taste, restraint, humility, and constant orientation towards lifting up the music as a whole were present. His music to me always seems more interested in interaction and atmosphere than cleverness and exposition.

John brought these musical and human attributes to the studio with quiet force. I can’t begin to list all the “small” ideas he had - a chord substitution here, an extra beat there - and the outsized impact they had on the music. Or how he always had the right few words to steer us towards the energy and feeling that each tune needed. Or the way knew how to get the best music out of us in 4 or 5 takes. Or how he gently pushed me away from my minimalist leanings to add extra layers here and there - drums on a couple tunes, accordion on one, slide guitar on another - and of course he was right every time.

I could go on, and if you catch me in person sometime I will be happy to. If you haven’t listened to John’s Forecast project, it’s some of my favorite music out there. Go find it, and keep an eye out for John on the road this year with @brucehornsby 

🎶: John’s triple fiddle arrangement on “First Notes”
📸: @emmamccouryphotography and me

Evening stream-of-consciousness mandolin. In the happiest key (F) so things got a little bubblegum, I’m not sorry. As usual, wishing the post-festival chops would last forever.

With Alaska Folk Fest six days behind me I’m still riding the headspace and musical porosity that comes from such a concentrated dose of community and creative openness. The days after a hang like this are a good time to keep the voice memos running while chops are high and neural pathways juiced up to generate ideas.

For some reason I’ve been gravitating more towards the guitar the past few days and this is one little figure that spilled out. I’m not sure what it is, does it have words, is it the spore of an instrumental? Why this odd little thing after 5 days deep down the well of old-time, country, and bluegrass? I had been listening to a bunch of @doodleev songs that day and thinking about her expansive melodic and harmonic vocabulary and guitar orchestration, maybe that was a seed. So here it is, and maybe here it will stay.

To those who were part of the Alaska magic, thank you for being so generous with your musical and human selves, and I hope that all creatives have regular access to spaces like this from time to time. We are so fuckin lucky!

@yotuck @zach_sharpe @sarahfrigginhamilton @reebwillms @calebklauder @aissajlee @haileypexton @mrfiddler1 @andrewheist @erinanais @forrestliketrees @mgonigle @gottscates @doodleev @jannifiddle @calebandreeb @ethanlawton @willicarlisle @josh.fortenbery @mmickelsoncdv @dangbooth @banjosamjo @munson45 @hanread @garrenvolper @peterhamre @jackakinney @akfolkfest

Folk festers, FYI 👆

Jesse Appelman & Friends @akfolkfest

Mainstage Friday 10pm

With @mgonigle @yotuck @forrestliketrees

Hey very cool to see Where We Go at #6 on the @folk_alliance chart for January! Thanks to all the DJs who have been spinning this music. 🙌

🎧 Link in bio if you’ve been meaning to listen