Song List: Jamboree, Far Away Again, Nashville Skyline Rag, Javelina Breakdown, One Too Many Mornings, Made in France Walker’s Backstep, Tried to Ruin My Name, Marlin’s Waltz, Bugle Call Rag.
Cory Walker grew up in a bluegrass playing family, and was part of The Bluegrass Parlor Band with his brothers Jarrod on mandolin (now playing with Billy Strings) and Tyler on guitar. Cory’s main instrument is the banjo but he is equally at ease on the guitar and resonator guitar. Cory has also played with Sierra Hull in Highway 111, Missy Raines and New Hip, Claire Lynch, the Dillards, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder and is now part of East Nash Grass. He was the winner of the IBMA Momentum Award as Instrumentalist of the Year.
This solo album features Cory on seven instrumentals and backup musician on three vocal songs. The artists joining Cory include Tim O’Brien, Rodney Dillard and many well-known instrumentalists like David Grier, Mike Compton, and Dennis Crouch. East Nash Grass members Harry Clark and Gaven Largent also appear on the album. Rodney Dillard sings Dylan’s “One Too Many Mornings” with a throwback to earlier versions and Cory adds a melodic backdrop with Mike Compton adding mandolin. “Tried to Ruin My Name” features Sierra Ferrell and Audrey MacAlpine on vocals reviving an old Pee Wee King song.
Cory and David Walker wrote the gentle waltz “Marlin’s Waltz,” and Cory adds both resophonic guitar and banjo alongside David Grier’s guitar and Bryan McDowell’s fiddle. “Walker’s Backstep” is another Cory song written with Nate Leath, and the banjo matched with Nate’s fiddle provide a bouncy dance tempo. Pierre Lagrene’s “Made in France” has a vibrant rhythm interplay between fiddle, banjo, and guitar and a fascinating blend of notes from all the instruments. “Javelina Breakdown” jumps out of the gate with a flurry of notes from Cory, David’s guitar, Billy Contreras’ fiddle, and Harry Clark’s mandolin. There are even passages that mimic conversation between the javelinas. For fans of innovative instrumentation, Cory