It’s no secret to those who know me best that my heart lies deep in the bluegrass realm of the musical world. Some of my most favorite pickers of all time live right here in town and I even get to play with them on some occasions. One of those folks just happened to have recorded an old Flatt and Scruggs tune with me at the same studio we recorded the Locals Covering Local project at…and that gent’s name is Mark Kilianski.
Mark and I first met when he was still at Berklee and I was just a songwriter around town looking for people to play with. Something about him always made me want to play better. He is an intensely talented guitar picker, but he always has such a great time while doing it. He plays what he feels, doesn’t take all the “music industry” stuff too serious, and his attitude is fantastic. Making him a real wonderful person to create music with and just plain hang out with.
Mark also plays with a slew of great pickers, pluckers and bowers around town and when I first had him come to mind to be a part of this project I knew I wanted to give him free reign to invite along anyone he felt would add to the recording. I was floored when he told me Lukas Pool and Amy Alvey would be coming along for the ride. I knew both Lukas and Amy through Mark and have admired their playing ever since. Lukas sat in with us at Roots in the Round not too long before the recording session and Amy’s fiddling rivals the best in the business…plus she sings wonderful harmonies.
When Mark told me that they would be covering their good friend Maya de Vitry’s song ‘Harlem’ I was even more excited. See, I happen to be a big fan of The Stray Birds. The whole making music around one microphone, switching instruments, the intimacy of it all really appeals to me. It’s how music like this should be made. I first saw the band actually during a break at my day job, they were playing outside at Kendall Square and what was supposed to be 5 minutes outside for a breath of fresh air turned into watching their entire 90 minute set. Their music is so honest, beautiful, and honors tradition in such a way that not much else does. Mark, Amy, and Lukas truly paid humble respect in their rendition of the track. It’s simplistic arrangement coupled with extremely technical playing and wonderful harmonies is really something else. I am truly honored that both Mark, Amy and Lukas and Maya agreed to be a part of this project. It means the world.