In 1996 when Jay Armsworthy made his first solo recording, he was “Just Lookin’ For Fun” (ET-CD-1001). Seven years later with his band, Jay Armsworthy & Eastern Tradition, they were “Still Havin’ Fun” (ET-CD-1002). Now with veteran musicians Tom Gr [+]In 1996 when Jay Armsworthy made his first solo recording, he was “Just Lookin’ For Fun” (ET-CD-1001). Seven years later with his band, Jay Armsworthy & Eastern Tradition, they were “Still Havin’ Fun” (ET-CD-1002). Now with veteran musicians Tom Gray and Marc Bolen along with Mike Phipps, Jay Armsworthy & Eastern Tradition are “Making Memories” (ET-CD-1003) .
“Making Memories” is the title of the 3rd and latest CD by Jay Armsworthy & Eastern Tradition as well as song #5. “Making Memories” contains 14 songs with a traditional Bluegrass sound which is the roots of the band. The CD contains some obscure songs that you don’t hear other bands do, as well as an original written by J.C. Poff, “Dirty Old Couch and Chair”, that has never been recorded by anyone else before. There’s also some classic country tunes here that have been recreated in a traditional Bluegrass style including, “Blue House Painted White”, “Stranger In My Home”, which features for the first time on recording, Tom Gray singing lead, “You’re The Only Good Thing”, and also instrumentally, “Help Me Make It Through The Night”.
A Jay Armsworthy & Eastern Tradition recording is not complete without adding at least one gospel tune to the repertoire and here they have included three. The old standard hymn “How Great Thou Art”, “Ship From The Kings Harbor Shore”, and an old song once sang by Kitty Wells, “Singing On Sunday”. This is one that will surely become a favorite!
Marc Bolen has played banjo with such groups as Charlie Moore, George Winn, and Jimmy Martin. There’s also an instrumental that he used to do with the “King of Bluegrass” titled “Big Country”. A couple of Carter Stanley originals are here, “How You’ve Tortured My Mind” and ”Girl Behind the Bar” which Tom Gray recorded in the 60’s with the Classic Country Gentlemen. Other tunes include Jim & Jesse’s “Congratulations Anyway” and Don Reno & Red Smiley’s “I’m Jealous of You”.
Review: Down south of Washington, D.C., a band of bluegrass practitioners are preserving a traditional sound without relying on dazzling displays of speed and melodic invention. Instead, Jay Armsworthy & Eastern Tradition execute their music with keen insight for their bluegrass and classic country. In 1995, guitarist Armsworthy worked with
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