“It’s my best attempt at not being too shallow,” laughs The Infamous Stringdusters’ Jeremy Garrett when you ask him about his first solo project, but don’t take him at his word.  Indeed, it doesn’t take more than a moment’s worth of listening to I Am A Stranger for anyone to realize that the young singer, songwriter and fiddler has accomplished much more than that.  Debuting on March 31^st as a Sugar Hill Records digital-only release, the album serves up a healthy portion of cutting edge bluegrass along with a few curves that will leave even the most jaded listener satisfied with the project’s depth.  

Like bandmate Andy Hall, whose Sound Of The Slide Guitar earned the IBMA’s Instrumental Album of the Year title in 2008, Garrett highlights his Stringdusters bandmates on a tasty selection of material while leaving plenty of room for contributions by a carefully chosen assortment of friends and colleagues who just happen to be among bluegrass and country’s finest.  “Honestly, the musicians were as big a part as the songs were,” he says.  “I envisioned how each song would go with particular musicians in mind, and there were songs I wanted to do but didn’t because the musicians weren’t right, and others that I added because the musicians fit them so well—like Julie Elkins on banjo, whom I’ve played with since we both lived out west, or Shawn Lane, who’s one of the best mandolin players on the planet.”  

Choosing to focus on “songs that were fairly simple, but with some real depth,” Garrett spent the early part of 2008 assembling a collection of actual and future classics.  Some, like the title track and the light-hearted “I Knew You Would Love Me,” offer convincing evidence of his own writing talents; others come from grass-rooted favorites like John Pennell, Jeff White and Craig Market, while the genre’s stalwarts get a nod in a delicious recap of Flatt & Scruggs’ “What’s Good For You,” sung with Americana sweetheart Abigail Washburn.

But while much of I Am A Stranger is devoted to the kind of energetic bluegrass that Garrett’s been contributing to the Stringdusters over the past four years, other numbers stretch out to reflect other aspects of his musical personality—and again, whether he’s accompanying himself on the mournful “Fields Of My Mind,” learned years ago in his native Idaho, leaning on Music City stalwarts Paul Franklin and Jeff Taylor for piano and steel on Hank Thompson’s “Today,” or borrowing a song from personal favorites U2, each setting is carefully crafted and each performance compelling. 

For those already familiar with his career, the breadth, substance and spirit that pervade the set will come as no surprise.  After moving to Nashville some seven years ago, Garrett swiftly ascended into the ranks of the city’s busiest musicians, serving stints with Chris Jones and Ronnie Bowman while filling in with legends like Bobby Osborne before launching the Stringdusters with a group of like-minded colleagues.  The group quickly jumped into the forefront of a bluegrass youth revolution with the release of Fork In The Road (2007), earning the IBMA’s Emerging Artist, Album and Song of the Year honors from the International Bluegrass Music Association for its compelling vocals—many featuring Garrett’s wailing tenor—instrumental brilliance, engaging song choices and blend of taut, hard-driving precision with loose, funky jams.  Grabbing a brief time-out from a hectic tour schedule, the group went back into the studio to produce last year’s follow-up, The Infamous Stringdusters, and then hit the road again.  

“This one became a super-intense passion for me,” Garrett says as he recalls working on his own album in between ‘dusters tours.  “Somehow holes opened up, and we recorded for a total of about five days, and wrapped it up at the beginning of December.  By that point, I’d been concentrating on it so hard that I just took a break from it—but you know,” he adds,” I listened to it again for the first time in a while not long ago, and I thought it sounded pretty decent.”  To which it only needs to be added, don’t take his word on that either; whether a bluegrass, Americana or just plain good music fan, any listener will find that I Am A Stranger is one enduring introduction to the full breadth of one of the scene’s brightest talents.
Jon Weisberger  Cottontown, TN
jonweisberger@gmail.com  http://www.myspace.com/jonweisberger

March 31st is the release date for Jeremy's new solo
recording 'I Am A Stranger' from Sugar Hill Records!

  CLICK HERE TO PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY! 

"It’s my best attempt at not being too shallow,” laughs The Infamous Stringdusters’ Jeremy Garrett when you ask him about his first solo project, but don’t take him at his word. Indeed, it doesn’t take more than a moment’s worth of listening to 'I Am A Stranger' for anyone to realize that the young singer, songwriter and fiddler has accomplished much more than that. The album serves up a healthy portion of cutting edge bluegrass along with a few curves that will leave even the most jaded listener satisfied with the project’s depth. Garrett highlights his Stringdusters bandmates on a tasty selection of material while leaving plenty of room for contributions by a carefully chosen assortment of friends and colleagues who just happen to be among bluegrass and country’s finest.

Visit Jeremy's website for more information!

www.garrettgrass.com

The only thing better than playing music with your buds, is a mountain of snow with the sun shining brightly on your face! Ahhh, doesn’t it feel AMAZING!?!?!  Whether you’re bombing the hill at top speeds or coasting through the trees, it is one of the most exhilarating activities a person could do!  Once you’re on the top of that mountain, there is no turning back.  You must overcome all obstacles that come into your path.  Jeremy approaches skiing like he approaches music:  Go for it!  Take the risk!  The only way to know what you’re capable of is to test every boundary and keep raising the bar.  Jeremy has had a poster since he was young of a skier with the saying, “There is no challenge that cannot be met, no dream that cannot be achieved.”  When you’re out on a limb, facing a tough slope, there’s no other choice, but to come down.  How you come down is all up to you!

The last few weeks the Dusters have been on the Ski Tour.  Jeremy has been skiing until his legs were numb.   Being from Idaho, Jeremy has a great affection for the outdoors.  He takes every opportunity he can to be out where the sun is shining on him and the breeze is on his back.  In addition to skiing, Jeremy has taken some solo excursions along the tour to visit friends in Colorado.  So far along the trip he has seen a variety of wildlife: elk, deer, big horn sheep, antelope, wild horses, and bob cat tracks!  The pinnacle was watching a red fox intent on catching its daily meal.  It’s head cocking from one side to the other at dinner in the snow.  After several minutes, the fox circled, leapt 5 feet in the air, and dived, nose first, into the snow!  Unfortunately, the fox missed its prey and fell on its back.  Well, I’m sure the fox didn’t give up!  Where would be the glory of success without a little failure now and then?

Watch the latest Duster YouTube video to catch a glimpse of Jeremy soaring down the mountain at Big Sky, Montana!  Duster Ski Tour Part 1

Make all your dreams come true!

January 8, 2009

Musicians, like black bears, hibernate in the winter months.  Jeremy's hibernation den was the recording studio!  Starting in October, Jeremy began laying down the initial tracks of his first solo album!  All year, Jeremy had been contemplating material for the project, stock piling in preparation for the winter to come.  The first tunes recorded were a tribute to his trad bluegrass and country influences.  Then the tracks morphed to show Jeremy's own musical flavor and passion.  Old friends and new friends contributed!  Thanksgiving weekend was spent in the studio hovering over the sound board, speakers cranked, listening intently to all the final mixing with sound engineer, Erick Jaskowiak.

December was time to let the album "mellow" as Jeremy would say.  He headed to Colorado to do some skiing, something he looks forward to every year!   Like any artist, it is only when a piece is done that you can really step back and look (or listen) for the first time and see or hear the piece as a whole, and let it have its full impact.  All the details so carefully labored over, come together in full musical force!  Jeremy is very pleased with the final results and can't wait to share it with you! 

The New Year was kicked off with a fantastic performance at the Ryman Auditorium by the Dusters, The Emmitt-Nershi Band, and The Del McCoury Band!  Good times were had by all!  Today, in typical Duster fashion, wasting no time, the Dusters hit the road to kick off the 2009 touring.  In addition to touring, Jeremy is down to the business of getting the album ready for release: mastering, album cover, and such! 

Watch out folks, the bears are out of hibernation!  Let Music Year 2009 begin! 

PREORDER NOW!
THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS, FORK IN THE ROAD

"I guarantee you will love this CD if you love bluegrass. I have listened to it over and over. … You will be hearing more from The Infamous Stringdusters."—Dolly Parton

THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS make their Sugar Hill Records debut February 13 with the arrival of FORK IN THE ROAD—cause for serious celebration, now and in years to come! In the meantime, we have signed copies available (while supplies last) with preorders AND all customers who preorder will be entered into a very special Infamous Stringdusters String Prize drawing!

One lucky winner drawn from preorders will get 20 sets of D'Addario EXP17 Medium Gauge EXP Coated Acoustic guitar strings, a Planet Waves Chromatic Tuner, and a Planet Waves Guitar Strap as part of a D'Addario and Planet Waves prize pack.

CLICK HERE TO PREORDER NOW!

Also, the title track from FORK IN THE ROAD is available now on !!!

THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS have ALL three elements one looks for in a promising young bluegrass band: They're ALL great singers, they're ALL excellent players, and they ALL write extremely well. Based in Nashville, the six unique, professionals comprising THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS are steeped in the tradition of bluegrass vocal harmony as well as the progressive edge of instrumental music.

It should come as no surprise, then, that THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS have found favor with the bluegrass faithful, folk enthusiasts, and the youthful jamgrass audience alike. Without ever losing its identity, this is a band that can truly do it all.

For those who love the classic strengths of bluegrass but also want to see it grow and prosper through engagement with the musical world around it, the arrival of FORK IN THE ROAD—and of THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS—is cause for serious celebration, now and in years to come.

CLICK HERE TO PREORDER NOW!

Hey everybody! I hope you like my myspace page and I'll try and keep it updated as often as I can. The Infamous Stringdusters are finally taking some time off! We had a great year and are looking forward to another great one, but it feels good to chill!

 I am going to be writing a lot this winter, which is something I haven't had a lot of time to do lately. I'll also be playing some sessions and freelancing a little.

Check back often!