Album Notes

"Fresh ~HOT~ string band music" featuring: Old-time clawhammer Banjo, Mandolin, Fiddle, Bass, Guitar. Slide Guitar and Vocal.

Comments from BLUEGRASS UNLIMITED Magazine July 2005...

This is 45 minutes plus of delightful string band music. John Balch is a clawhammer player, but hold on, this music is as close to newgrass as it is old-time. Jack Pearson's mandolin and Shad Cobb's fiddle don't go anywhere Balch's banjo can't go. This makes for one fine musical journey...

If you like your music more muscular than the gift store variety but still sensitive and full of creative energy, this project will fill your needs. If you do not like that "one tune" the old-time players always play, but you like fiddle music, this one is for you. If you are a fan of the new mandolin music with its sweet jazzy edge, you will find plenty to please you here. If you think that old time clawhammer banjo is boring, you haven't heard this recording. This one is a keeper (Bluegrass Unlimited July 2005.

~HOT~ Biscuit Jam is a collection of traditional tunes and innovative new music composed by John Balch for the Clawhammer style banjo w/ string band. It includes: six (6) familiar selections (Needlecase, Whiskey Before Breakfast, Be Thou My Vision, and a medley of: Cuckoo's Nest/ Cherokee Shuffle/ Bonaparte's Retreat), and eleven (11) new original pieces.

Produced by Jack Pearson and John Balch for Pure Mountain Records, November 2004.

Original music composed by John Balch.

Contributing musicians:
John Balch (clawhammer style banjo, guitar)
Jack Pearson (mandolin, guitar, National steel body guitar),
Elizabeth Pearson (upright bass, two-finger style banjo),
Shad Cobb (fiddle),
and Debbie Vaughn (vocal).

John is a veteran of the old time music scene. He has served as Chairman of Judging for the Uncle Dave Macon Days Old-Time Banjo National Championship for more than 20 years. ~HOT~ Biscuit Jam is John's second CD. See also: Carry On John (released: 2001 Whippoorwill Records). Visit www.johnbalchmusic.com for more.

Jack is well-known as a former member of the Allman Brother's Band. He is recognized as a world-class blues and jazz guitarist. However, his interests and musical talents are far broader. Jack's late father was an old-time banjo player. Consequently, he has a deep appreciation for old-time and bluegrass music. Indeed, Jack is a fantastic mandolinist with a unique original style. See: www.jackpearson.com for more.

Elizabeth plays bass with her husband in the Jack Pearson Band. She is also both an accomplished classical guitarist and a fine banjoist. In addition to awesome bass lines throughout this project, Elizabeth contributed an authentic two-finger banjo track on "Needlecase".

Shad is a regular on the Grand Old Opry as a member of the Mike Snider String band. He previously played with bluegrass legends, the Osborne Brothers. He is simply one of the best fiddlers and all-around musicians working today.

Debbie is an accomplished and inspired vocalist. She conceived this arrangement of Be Thou My Vision in her request for "Celtic" sounding banjo accompaniment. The approach was to tune the banjo in a unique way (EEAEE)