10. My Ozark Mountain Home was first recorded by George Edgin's Corn Dodgers sometime in the 1920s. On this cut, I chose to combine the rare talents of mandolinist Kenny Hall and fiddler Stuart Duncan. Kenny is a long-time family friend and musical inspiration. At the time of this recording, Kenny had recently turned 80. With a little prodding, I got him to sing an A. P. Carter-style bass on the chorus.

This is one of many songs where Stuart's fiddle shines. It's a safe bet that no bluegrass fiddler in recent memory has been in such steady demand, and accorded such widespread acclaim as a master of his instrument, as Stuart.

Growing up in southern California, Stuart was a child prodigy on the violin. He emerged as a powerful force on fiddle when he moved to Nashville in the 1980s. Stuart has been voted Fiddle Player of the Year many times by his peers in the International Bluegrass Music Association and has been featured on a wide range of popular recordings. He was a prominently featured artist on the Down From The Mountain tour in 2002 and more recently performed on the Cold Mountain soundtrack.

Talking with Stuart, I discovered he had his first fiddle lesson from Brian Steeger, an old friend of mine from Sweet's Mill music camp! Stuart grew up listening to Sweet's Mill Stringband LPs featuring Kenny Hall.

11. Salt River is from West Virginia fiddler Clark Kessinger, who recorded his classic work (70 sides) between 1928-30.

12. Bully of the Town is perhaps the most famous of the bully songs. Each town had its bully­who remained the bully­until someone successfully challenged him. May Irwin asked Charles E. Trevathan to put words to a melody she had heard performed by black singers in Tennessee, though the song is reputed to be English.

13. Carter's Blues is a song I grew up listening to from the recording by 1960s folk duo Kathy and Carol. When the Bluestein Family began singing actively in the mid-1970s, it was natural to incorporate music of the prolific recording pioneers of early country music, such as the Carter Family.

14. Waynesboro was inspired by the recording of fiddler Doc Roberts of Madison County, Kentucky. Born in 1897, his most active work was in the 1920s and 30s.

15. Sequoia Waltz is an original Lyquid Amber tune featuring the Diatonic Evoharp. Special thanks to the incredibly talented Joe Craven, for his beautiful mandolin lead and to the gifted Randy Kohrs for his masterful dobro. The Dulcimer Shoppe of Mountain View, Arkansas, makes both types of Evoharps and McSpadden Dulcimers.

 
Evo, Joel, Jemmy and Frayda Bluestein

Joe Craven recorded mandolin on Sequoia Waltz. Since 1989, Joe has been the highly respected mandolinist with the David Grisman Quintet. Having played and/or recorded with Jerry Garcia, Stéphane Grappelli, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, The Persuasions, Psychograss, Tony Furtado, Darol Anger, Rob Ickes, Ken Nordine and many others, Joe's phone rings often for studio work. He has performed music and sound effects on a wide variety of recordings and grammy-nominated projects