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Mostly original songs with a distinctive contemporary bluegrass drive. Reminds you of a cross between Tony Rice, the Seldom Scene, and the Lonesome River Band.
Genre:
Country: Bluegrass
Release Date:
2003
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World of Dreams
© Copyright-Tim Kruzic, Blue Daze Publishing
(829757327921)
Record Label: Blue Daze
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Blue Daze is a five piece bluegrass band from the central Maryland area located between Baltimore and Washington, DC. The band derives its unique sound from a mix of traditional and contemporary bluegrass, including numerous original songs. The band prides itself on uncovering unique songs from talented Maryland songwriters and arranging obscure songs in its own style.
The original four members of the band (Tim Kruzic, Lenny Whitehead, Chuck Van Meter, Mike Jenkins) have been together since January 1990. Mike Hartnett joined the group as the fiddle player in February 2001.
World of Dreams is the second CD release for Blue Daze. Eight of the thirteen songs on World of Dreams are most likely new to bluegrass listeners. Four songs were written by talented Maryland songwriter Wayne Ashemore (World of Dreams, Plans and Dreams, What a Hurt What a Heartache, and Cold Walls of Stone). We included two of Wayne?s songs on our first CD and believe that his songs are well suited to our style. Two songs (Billy the Kid Saloon, I Don?t Think About You) are from the pen of Jim Livesay of Sneedville, Tennessee. His songs are a little outside of the bluegrass groove and offer a nice change of pace. Going Back to Stay was written by our good friend Buster Finneyfrock, formerly of Maryland and now a resident of Martinsburg, West Virginia. Finally, band member Lenny Whitehead wrote the instrumental Dazed. Hopefully, you will find that the remaining songs are not overdone and represent unique arrangements or treatment.
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A fine band with a down-home bluegrass quality and a lot of pizzazz
author: Joe Ross
Playing Time – 39:37 -- World of Dreams’ 13 tracks include four new songs written by Wayne Ashemore, two songs from the pen of Jim Livesay, and one from Buster Finneyfrock. Songs like “What a Hurt, What a Heartache” are welcome additions to the bluegrass repertoire. A solid band based in central Maryland, Blue Daze also covers material from Rebe Gosdin, Hugh Moffatt, Carlton Haney, and Vern & Rex Gosdin. Originally formed in 1990, about a decade has now passed since the 1994 album release from this group that was nominated by the Washington Area Music Association for a WAMMIE Award for Bluegrass Band of the Year.
Blue Daze is Chuck Van Meter (guitar), Mike Jenkins (bass), Mike Hartnett (fiddle), Tim Kruzic (banjo), and Lenny Whitehead (mandolin). Jenkins, Hartnett and Whitehead are longtime bluegrass buds who have a history that stretches back to the 70s when they played together in a band called Overland Express. Hartnett only recently joined Blue Daze, becoming their fiddler in 2001. Lead vocals are shared by Van Meter (8 songs), Whitehead (3 songs), and Jenkins (1 song). Van Meter sings with relaxed, laid-back technique, and my favorites include the album’s title cut and “Cold Walls of Stone.” Interestingly, both have choruses that are sung in lean fashion as duets. The album’s closer, “Going Up” is one that just seems to be presented and sung with added conviction. Of special deserving note is a western swingy “Billy the Kid Saloon,” and I hope that future projects feature some more of Jenkins’ heartfelt lead singing. He is typically relegated to a subordinate, yet still very important, baritone part in the band’s vocal trios. Whitehead’s instrumental “Dazed” is another highlight with its new acoustic sensibilities. Van Meter also provides some exceptional flatpick guitar work throughout the project.
This self-released album is an excellent introduction to the music of Blue Daze, a fine band with a down-home bluegrass quality and a lot of pizzazz. I suspect that Blue Daze has a strong fan base and following in their region, and airplay off “World of Dreams” should help land them plenty more festival and concert appearances. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now, Roseburg, OR.)
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