Six years of touring across North America and Europe, four critically-acclaimed CDs, a Canadian Juno nomination and two Canadian Folk Music Award nominations have established John Reischman and the Jaybirds as a top-flight band in bluegrass music.
With a unique traditional sound, the mandolin master and his band are known for powerful original songs and instrumentals, soaring vocals and refreshing interpretations of songs from the old-time repertoire presented with their own bluegrass twist.
Stellar Jays, their fourth album, continues the strong tradition of great music from the Jaybirds. With nine new songs and tunes among the fourteen tracks, Stellar Jays marks the first time all five band mates have contributed original material to a Jaybirds album. Ranging from old-time infused bluegrass, innovative instrumentals and contemporary ballads, the original numbers are rounded out with unique takes on timeless, rarely heard classics. Stellar Jays is available now through CD Baby (see link to your left) or through the band website ( www.thejaybirds.com ).
Praise for STELLAR JAYS:
"A masterpiece....fascinating and fresh sounding....immaculate musicianship. Incorporates the best elements of bluegrass and old-time into a killer new sound." -- Dave Higgs, Nashville Public Radio, Bluegrass Breakdown
"Unprecedented musicality... John Reischman's concept of tone, sense of melody, and attention to detail continues to astound not only students of the instrument, but the entire contemporary folk community." -- Chris Thile
"Clarity, energy, good ensemble work, classy originals, and an adventurous approach to Folk and Bluegrass standards....bluegrass and acoustic music fans take note of a fresh breeze from the north. " -- Kerry Dexter, FolkWax
"John Reischman and the Jaybirds know the best new Bluegrass grows from classic roots. Their new CD "Stellar Jays" has all the elements: hard driving instrumentals, lonesome singing, and an excellent cross section of originals mixed with traditional covers." -- Tim O'Brien
"On the evidence of Stellar Jays, John Reischman & the Jaybirds are in their prime as contemporary bluegrass musicians capable of maintaining and extending the music's legacy." -- William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide, Billboard.com
"Aces in the writing, instrumental and vocal departments....a true collaborative effort from this West Coast amalgamation of Canadian and American bluegrass musicians, and worthy of repeated listenings and then some." -- Peter North, Edmonton Journal
"Though exceptional mandolinist Reischman gets his name out front, this Vancouver-based folkgrass band democratically spreads the spotlight. Bassist Trisha Gagnon's pristine voice lends itself equally well to old English ballads, Civil War soldier's prayers and her own stirring evocations of rural life, for example, and Nick Hornbuckle's banjo work can be downright spine-tingling." -- Los Angeles Daily News
"A thoroughly professional ensemble with a rare ability to produce music that is simultaneously traditional and contemporary. It’s nearly impossible not to remark that
Trisha Gagnon continues to be one of the most versatile (and unheralded)
vocalists in bluegrass...the Jaybirds are a band that continues to hit on all cylinders." -- Sing Out!
"Stellar Jays will knock your socks off. This is the fourth CD by the Canadian Bluegrass band that has been wowing them in Canada and across the US for the past 6 years. Lead man John Reischman could be one of the best mandolin players alive today, and the folks he’s
playing with are neck and neck with him all the way. Lightning speed and laser precision." -- Victory Reviews
John Reischman is one of the top-ranked contemporary mandolin players, revered for his exquisite taste, tone, and ability to play genres ranging from bluegrass to jazz to hot swing to Latin and beyond. He toured and recorded for many years with California's eclectic Good Ol' Persons and helped define the groundbreaking "new acoustic" instrumental scene as a member of the Tony Rice Unit in the early '80s.
John's current main performance project is with The Jaybirds. Joining John in the Jaybirds are four acoustic players renowned in their own right: Jim Nunally, Trisha Gagnon, Nick Hornbuckle and Greg Spatz.
Jim Nunally , from the San Francisco Bay area, has established himself over two decades as a versatile guitarist with wonderful tone, speed and clarity. The vocalist, composer and producer appeared with John on the 1997 IBMA and-Grammy-winner True Life Blues, The Songs of Bill Monroe. Jim is an in-demand session musician and plays select dates with the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience.
Chilliwack, B.C.-based Trisha Gagnon has a strong and distinctive lead voice anchoring what Dirty Linen magazine calls "...gorgeous three-part harmonies..." Adds Sing Out!: "...Whether harmonizing or taking the lead on startlingly good material . . . Gagnon's voice is irresistible." Trisha's singing and composing is complemented by her equally strong bass playing.
Nanaimo, B.C.-based Nick Hornbuckle is widely considered to be the west coast's leading original banjo stylist. Nick has contributed several outstanding numbers to the Jaybird's songlist. "Arrowhead is an instrumental achievement, . . don't be surprised to hear Arrowhead work its way into the jamming lexicon," said the CBA newsletter Bluegrass Breakdown. "Holy Jumped Up is another example of Hornbuckle's importance to the ensemble. He could have chosen to be as flashy and licks-oriented as any other banjoist, but he focuses instead on the best possible notes for the song he's playing."
Fiddler magazine describes Spokane's Greg Spatz as a "world-class bluegrass fiddler." His distinctive, bluesy tone and wide-ranging style have made him a popular West Coast player for years; his lengthy performing resume includes stints with the legendary Frank Wakefield, California's High Country and resophonic guitar wizard Rob Ickes. Greg's literary doppelganger "Gregory Spatz" is a well published author with two novels, a book of short stories, and numerous individual fiction and nonfiction pieces to his credit. His latest novel is Fiddler's Dream, which you learn about by visiting gregoryspatz.com or listening to a recent review from NPR's All Things Considered .
John Reischman and the Jaybirds offer a blend of vintage gems, original vocal songs and trademark original instrumentals -- variously bluesy, hard-edge and haunting -- that make them the most interesting band on the circuit today. Their virtuosity, inspiring material, heartfelt vocals and engaging humour generate a live performance not to be missed!.. CDBABY LINK for JOHN REISCHMAN AND THE JAYBIRDS: Stellar Jays --
.. CDBABY LINK for JOHN REISCHMAN AND THE JAYBIRDS: The Road West --
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