Eddie Ray
Patuxent CD-360
Eddie Ray is a fiery, young, sixteen-year-old banjo player from North Carolina who grew up influenced by such bluegrass artists as Flatt & Scruggs and Reno & Smiley as well as Country, Latin, Jazz and more contemporary music. He is accompanied on this project by Danny Nicely (mandolin, guitar), Marshall Wilborn (bass), Patrick McAvinue (fiddle), and Willie Marschner (fiddle). Other musicians on various cuts include Mason Via (vocals), Tom Mindte (vocals), Ida Rose Buzzini (vocal), Lyla Cherry & Lake Carver (vocals), Tae Childress (guitar), Kyser George (guitar), Luke Morris (mandolin), and David George (bass).
When he was eleven, Buzzini wrote “Ragnarok” and recently “Cash Don’t Sleep,” and “I’ll Try Not To Care,” co-written with Mindte and Via. The rest of the project is a collection of familiar standards featuring his solid banjo playing. These include “Farewell Blues,” “New Camptown Races,” “Bringing In The Georgia Mail,” “Preachin’, Prayin’, Singin’,” “Old Flame,” “You’re No Good,” and “When You and I Were Young Maggie.”
Buzzini and members of the Southbound 77 band he performs with gathered together to give their version of “Daniel Prayed.” Buzzini has a pleasant voice but what shines on this project are his banjo skills, and the backing of the other musicians. This is a really nice outing for this young gentleman.
