Earl Scruggs… one of the best banjo players to ever do it.
As the 100th birthday of the bluegrass legend, icon, and hero Earl Scruggs is celebrated, fellow banjo-playing legend Tony Trischka announces a tribute highlighting Scruggs’ long-lost tracks Earl Jam: A Tribute To Earl Scruggs.
At the height of the pandemic, you can imagine Trischka’s surprise when he opened his door to see a mysterious thumb drive at his door. Upon further investigation, he found the drive was filled with over 200 lost songs from Earl Scruggs, recorded from private gatherings in his home during the ’80s and ’90s. These precious gems highlighted so many tricks, solos, and new sounds from Scruggs, a gift that Trischka couldn’t have dreamed of as he has been studying the craft of Scruggs for most of his career.
As Trischka eagerly wanted to share the recordings with his friends and colleagues, it wasn’t long before they hit the studio, and Earl Jam: A Tribute To Earl Scruggs was born:
“Whether or not you’re a banjo player, if you play bluegrass, you’re influenced by Earl. So it was easy to get world-class players on board.”
Coinciding the record’s release, Trischka shares “Brown’s Ferry Blues” today as the lead single for the album, enlisting the help of Billy Strings on the track.
“When I started recording my new album, ‘Earl Jam,’ I knew I’d want to have Billy on it, and watching some of his videos, I saw him burning through “Brown’s Ferry Blues.” Every once in a long while, some major event comes along to take the acceptance of bluegrass to a new level. In the past, it’s been a song like “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” “The Ballad of Jed Clampett,” or “Dueling Banjos.”
Now, in a more long-term way, it’s Billy spreading the music to a much wider audience. In his shows, he mixes longer jams with shorter, traditional tunes, and, needless to say, the word is getting out.”
Tony Trischka and Billy Strings created magic in the studio for their rendition of “Brown’s Ferry Blues,” coming out of the gate bucking with the list of strong industry players he enlisted for the album. With the help of other heavy hitters like Vince Gill and Molly Tuttle, Scruggs’ traditional roots combined with the modern sound of these players will lead to something extraordinary.
This album is for those who appreciate good music. Whether you are a bluegrass fan or not, I am confident that you can find a track here that resonates with you.
Earl Jam Tracklist:
Side One
Brown’s Ferry Blues (feat. Billy Strings)
San Antonio Rose
Chinese Breakdown
My Horses Ain’t Hungry
Roll On Buddy
Freight Train Blues
Casey Jones
Side Two
Dooley (feat. Molly Tuttle)
Cripple Creek
Amazing Grace
Lady Madonna
Bury Me Beneath the Willow (feat. Vince Gill)
Shout Little Lulu
Little Liza Jane
Amazing Grace – Postlude
Tony Trischka’s Earl Jam On Tour:
Jan. 13 – Shelby, NC – The Earl Scruggs Center – Remembering Earl
Jan. 14 – Floyd, VA – Floyd Country Store
Jan. 19 – New York, NY – City Winery – Tony’s 75th Birthday Bash
Jan. 26 – Raleigh, NC – Martin Marietta Center For The Performing Arts
Jan. 27 – Sykesville, MD – Common Ground on the Hill
Jan. 28 – Richmond, VA – The Tin Pan
Feb. 22-23 – Bellevue, WA – Wintergrass Festival 2024
Apr. 5 – Savannah, GA – Savannah Music Festival
