Album Notes

Big Blend indeed! The new release from Asheville’s Every Mother’s Dream boasts a variety seldom found in a folk rock release. Anyone who listens to this disc is sure to find something they can enjoy. “She Rides” kicks off the recording with a funk edge while the following track, “Steer”, takes more of a toe tapping country twist. As you make your way through the big blend of tunes, you’ll hear some jazz, swing, folk and even a hint of electronica in the concluding song “Observation Deck”. “Into the Sun”, a positive and empowering ode to broken women, and “Don’t Tell Me No” offer a refreshing stripped down sound amidst a full band sound. You can expect a love song or two, yes, but the themes in Big Blend range from daydreams to particle physics At least two things are consistent throughout this record – stirring vocal harmonies and well crafted songwriting.

This duo, once just Jay Kaiser and Mandy Carter, has made some impressive choices in the musical company they keep. Jay brilliantly plays many of the instruments on Big Blend as its producer. However, it would not be the same shining success without drummer, Jeff Dewhirst and saxophone player, Aimee Sullivan. Jeff’s tasteful kit sound drives most tunes on the record, and Aimee lays down some spectacular solos on “She Rides” and “Attitude”.



BAND BIO:
Jay Kaiser and Mandy Carter have been making music as a pair since 2001. Jay, who was trained in classical guitar at the University of Illinois, moved to Asheville, NC to join a local rock band. Mandy was fresh on the Asheville singer songwriter scene, testing her new found talent in local showcases. Noticing the matching stickers on one another’s guitar cases, the two found musical common ground. It didn’t take long for Jay and Mandy to form a duo and begin performing their own brand of modern folk music around the southeast, blending Jay’s fave’s—60’s rock and 50’s jazz—and Mandy’s influence from more recent female folksters.
Audiences rave about the pair’s vocal harmonies, original sound, and dazzling acoustic guitar work ala Jay.
In 2005, the band grew to include as many as five members (Jeff Dewhirst/drums, Joe Bruno/bass, Aimee Sullivan/sax) on any given night. Now, the new incarnation of Jay and Mandy, Every Mother’s Dream, is poised for success. Whether as a duo or a full band, Every Mother’s Dream serves up a folk show filled with energy and variety. Although they are sure to please any folk fan, there is no genre label that truly fits EMD. Their writing is influenced by folk, funk, country, pop, and jazz musicians. The title of their latest recording describes them best...Big Blend.