Album Notes

After 15 years of performing, including 3 CDs with his band, Blue Rooster, Cort Armstrong has released his first solo CD, which features 100% original material. Recorded in his isolated rural community, at Nash's Corner in Dungeness Valley, WA, throughout 2009, Cort laid down twelve songs of his own, with engineering and a little harmony vocal support from fellow devotee of roots music, Tyler Richart, from Seattle, WA. A very adept producer, Richart coaxed the best out of the new material, practically collaborating in the evolution of some of the newest songs. Armstrong's performance sizzles... his voice reflects the pain of years, and the guitar picking shows off his passion for the picking styles of Rev. Gary Davis, Merle Travis and Doc Watson.

This collection of original songs doesn't rely on any tradition or genre to define it... based on a love for Piedmont Blues, Bluegrass, Mountain Fiddle music and barroom Country music, this music of Armstrong's may come to define other people's music. Right now, we describe it as "Chicken Pickin'". This is not the "chicken picking" of the Telecaster plucking Marty Stuarts of the world. This style comes from the mountains, and is a blues man showing his love of country music.

The project introduces two other songwriting collaborators. Kevin Sandri (Blue Rooster, Foghorn Stringband) helped Cort pen "Stone Cold Blues", a true story about a fellow that Kevin knew back in New Jersey. Mark Hintzke, who is better known for his altruistic efforts to restore temples and associated communities around the world, has a bit of a gift with writing, and collaborated with Armstrong on "Chicken Pickin'" and "Can't Keep Livin'".