Album Notes

Don\'t let the opening song on \"Second Wind\" fool you - this is NOT a bluegrass CD! With the release of \"Second Wind\", The Mandolin Wind Project continues to redefine the very nature of mandolin music.

The first Mandolin Wind Project album broke new ground with its unique and varied use of mandolin in a contemporary music setting. \"Second Wind\" continues on where the first Mandolin Wind Project CD left off, featuring contemporary mandolin, guitar, and banjo compositions that are unlike anything ever recorded. Guitarist/producer Brad Ford and mandolinist Dewayne Grissom continue to blaze new paths in uncharted music territory with songs that are vibrant and fresh – yet melodic, warm, and familiar.

The songs on \"Second Wind\" span a vast range of musical styles. The opening cut, \"Blue Kentucky Wind”, is a fine example of \"new grass\", with excellent violin work by Kyle Dillingham. The second song, “Mockingbird\", immediately takes the listener in a completely different direction using its hint of Mediterranean influence.

Every track on the album sounds different. “Ashes” swirls in an ambient Pink Floyd atmosphere, whereas \"Silver Plume\" pays tribute to its namesake Colorado railroad mining town of lore. \"Legend Of The Elms\" introduces some revolutionary use of the venerable banjo.

Mandolin and electric bass dance around one another in “Dragonfly”. “Katy Gibson” is a sweet and beautiful song with a fine violin solo by David Short. “The Ghost At Goss Creek Bridge” is an eerie abstract piece with haunting banjo and mandolin tones awash in a reverb saturated backdrop.

Every song is a masterpiece, although two favorites are “Rio Vista”, with its exciting and vibrant Latin feel, and “Kelsey’s Windmill” – an incredible display of composition, form, and style.

Second Wind is full of great mandolin melodies, crafty guitar work, whimsical violin lines, unusual banjo parts, and superb musical production.

This is a CD with impeccable recording quality.

Produced by Brad Ford.

Check it out!