sesshin

In 2005, many of my musician friends made time in their busy schedules to contribute to a collaborative album of instrumental songs. The resulting music has been called:
"Pure down-tempo ecstacy" (The Hook), "A sound that lands somewhere between dark lounge style, sonic improvisation and newgrass expansiveness." "The album blends a creative twist of styles and offers a time capsule concoction of Central Virginia's home grown music scene." (Daily Progress) Special thanks goes out to the musicians:

Darrell Muller and Jesse Harper (Old School Freight Train),
Daniel Clarke (K.D. Lang, Mandy Moore, Modern Groove Syndicate)

Ann Marie Calhoun (Jethro Tull, Steve Vai, Ringo Starr, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Widespread Panic, Yonder Mountain String Band......seriously)

John D'earth (Miles Davis, Dave Matthews, Bruce Hornsby)
J.C. Kuhl (Agents of Good Roots)
Andy Thacker (Adrienne Young and Little Sadie, Sawyer Hollow)
Ben Krakauer, and Ryan Chiachiere

The group continues to perform regionally in both club and traditional jazz settings with equal enthusiasm. Performances have included many of the area's finest musicians, including Bobby Read (Bruce Hornsby) on saxophone. Click here to listen to some live cuts from a show in 2006. Also be sure to check out the video below of a recent show @ Rapture in Charlottesville, VA.

Sam Wilson - Green Gates

Sam plays in a band with 2 of his brothers called Sons of Bill. His first solo album of original songs was a true pleasure to record, with a very talented cast. Click here for more information. Here is a video clip of the band performing live at Gravity Lounge, featuring Shannon Worrell.

Pickin' On Albums: Old School Freight Train

These two nationally released albums were recorded by Old School Freight Train for CMH Records in Nashville. They created some wonderful arrangements for these tunes; we had a blast working together in the studio. These guys have gone on to become my good friends and sometimes musical companions. Here they are performing live.

Sun Domingo - EP

This Atlanta based rock outfit recorded 2 songs from their EP at mountainside in 2006. They have since gone on to release a full length album, and are embarking on a world tour. Click here for more info, and check out this awesome video!

Helen Horal - Words Unbroken

Helen brings her songs and lyrics to life with a voice that is genuine, earnest, and unmistakable. From start to finish one of the best and most rewarding projects at Mountainside yet. Keep an eye out for more updates on the future happenings of this talented emerging artist. Click here for more information.

Brian Buracker - Within This Brief Time

I recorded the drums, bass, and electric guitars for this project at Steelheart Studios in C'ville.
Brian Buracker is a songwriter/singer/bass player from Fairfax, Virginia. He has just completed his first release, which is entitled "Within This Brief Time." The 11-song album will be available in late November 2008. Brian's unique blending of lyrics, vocals, lead bass guitar and song construction has been described by his fans as a combination of such musical influences as Dave Matthews, David Gray, Marcus Miller, Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Victor Wooten.

The Baghdad Rain Project

"A Call to Heal is a series of hauntingly beautiful songs (including the work of Iraqi musician Rahim AlHaj) that speak not only to war's tragedy, but also to the healing process that we must all work to be a part of - if we are every going to find a sense of true peace in society and in our selves." - Kevin Sites

Borden Grant - 4 song EP

This band is a creation of multi-instrumentalist Brennan Gilmore, whose other projects include Kantara (Arab-Appalachian music) and Walkers Run. Band members include Steve Hoke (guitars, fiddle, steel, mandolin), Opal Blackmon (Vocals), and Rob Hubbard (Drums). Click here for more information.

Gunchux - 5 song EP

Gunchux is Rob Cheatham, Matt Manzano, R.S. Hornsby, Chad Bassett, and Tucker Titus. Click here for more info.

Matthew Willner

Willner has been a fixture on the C-ville music scene for years, maintaining a weekly Monday gig at Miller's in addition to playing just about everywhere else in town. This debut album features many of the area's best musicians lending a hand, from Bobby Read (saxophone) and John D'earth (trumpet) to Johnny Gilmore (drums) and Darrell Rose (percussion). Click here for more information.

Kings of Belmont - Sway

Formed from a Ween cover band (Peen), the Kings of Belmont are bringing the rock to crowds in central VA and beyond. Their full length album was recorded at Mountainside in the summer of 2007. Click here for more information. Singer/guitarist Max Collins also has recorded a 6 song EP at Mountainside, due for release very soon...check back for updates.

Fair Weather Bums

Original Virginia bluegrass featuring Peyton Tochterman (guitar, vocals), Andy Thacker (mandolin, vocals), and Darrell Muller (bass, vocals). We recorded this album in early 2005, it was mixed by Bobby Read and mastered by Bill Wolf. Here is a recent clip from Peyton Tochterman and High Society, live at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville.

Sawyer Hollow

The American/Irish folk quintet "Sawyer Hollow" formed at The Wintergreen Mountain Music Festival in Virginia 2006 in the effort to blend together the love and respect they both have for American and Irish folk music. The musicians from both sides of the Atlantic pooled together their own individually established musical repertoires and emerged with a truly interesting fusion of folk Irish and American bluegrass music. With variety, virtuoso musicianship, and creative arrangement, their music brings a new high to the spirit and energy of traditional folk music. Featuring Andy Thacker (mandolin) and Ryan McGiver (acoustic guitar). Here is Andy playing Angeline the Baker, his mandolin was made by Virginia luthier John Hamlett.

Raw Dawg

Mike Doyle and the boys blended southern-flavored rock, blues, and jam-band influences into this solid debut effort. Chris Kress (PMD Recording, Dave Matthews Band) mixed and mastered the album, soon to be officially released. Check them out in and around central VA.