The Bluegrass Messengers

CD's And Recording Information,
Bluegrass Boogie
Bluegrass Boogie was recorded at Michael Barber's Studio in Lexington, NC in Feb. 2003. The CD features two original compositions by Richard Matteson Fishing Bound and Bluegrass Boogie, and includes several new performers in the Messengers line-up: Josh Burchem –Mandolin and Vocal on “John Hardy;” Debbie Gitlan- Fiddle; Lisa Parrish- vocals; Kristina Powell- vocals and Justin Swaim- Banjo. Kevin Crooks, who is the regular bass player for the Messengers also played Bass on the CD.

The CD which is more fast paced and driving than the early CD's is powered by the fiddle playing of Debbie Gitlan, a regular on the bluegrass festival circuit. Some of the breakdowns include Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Jerusalem Ridge, Salt Creek, John Hardy, Little Maggie, Bile Dem Cabbage Down, and Dogget’s Gap.

The CD opens with a Messenger favorite Hallelujah I’m Ready, and also features two jazz standards Maple Leaf Rag and Alabama Jubilee.





Farther Along

Recorded January 2002, Farther Along showcases new member Rebecca Stevens (fiddle and lead vocals), harmonica playing by Jeff Matteson and vocals by Michael Barber. The new sound is fuller and more vocal harmonies make this the most adventurous recording the Messengers have done. With fiddle and harmonica added to the original sound the group sounds more complete. Rebecca Stevens' vocals give the group a different and more authentic sound.

Live at Mt. Airy was recorded on a snowy afternoon in late January 2000. The night before the scheduled recording, a big snowstorm blanketed the Piedmont area and left 8 inches of snow on the ground in Mt. Airy.

The Messengers with a few friends and family drove through the ice and snow to Bob Vogler's Studio 1 in Mt. Airy. In two hours the Messengers laid down 16 tracks for the CD. It was called a Live CD because there were no overdubs and the group played through the songs as if they were playing live. The songs were mixed in an hour and the Messengers first CD was complete in just three hours!

Diggin' Up Roots- The second Messenger CD was recorded in February 2001. Again it was recorded at Bob Vogler's Studio 1 in Mr. Airy, NC on a mild winter day. The Title "Diggin Up Roots" came from the photo for the cover. Outside Studio 1, against a brick wall were rakes, a shovel, and a wheelbarrow that were used as props in the photo. "Roots" is also a slang for traditional music. Eventually Maggie ended up in the wheelbarrow, which is the shot used for the cover.

The second album was also done "live" in two hours. Mark Arrowood (banjo) was featured on some of the 12 selections recorded and mixed for the CD. The album also featured "Go Long Mule", which is an original song by Richard Matteson based on traditional lyrics found by Matteson when doing folk research. Tony Poindexter designed the CD cover.