I’ve always loved the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephané Grappelli. This fun tune is one that you don’t hear very often, but has a simple and catchy melody that is extremely fun to improvise and solo over. I’ve been playing this tune since my wife’s cousin, Luke Skaggs, requested I play this one at his wedding. I’ve loved it ever since then and have always included it in my shows. Django and Stephané have inspired so many great musicians and have had a huge impact on the musicians of bluegrass music. I first heard about them through David Grisman and his record “Live”. I instantly fell in love with that style of music and dove head first into their catalog. The art of improvisation is something that makes bluegrass and swing music so unique and I was thrilled to record this one with @thecodykilby on guitar and @byronhousemusic on upright bass.
“Aced” is available for streaming on all platforms and for purchase at andyleftwich.com.
#andyleftwich #r26 #instrumental #bluegrass #mountainhomemusic
I’ve always loved the intensity of a fast paced instrumental, and we hold nothing back on this one! Named after a raceway close to home where I grew up, I thought this one perfectly described the rush that you get from going fast! I wanted a song on this new project where we can go absolutely bananas and I feel like we captured it on this one!
“Aced” is available for streaming on all platforms and for purchase at andyleftwich.com.
#andyleftwich #highlandrim #instrumental #bluegrass #mountainhomemusic
My guest on the podcast this week is fiddle player @andyleftwich and we’re chatting about his new album Aced.
Andy talks about his love for instrumental music, including how hearing @markoconnorofficial ’s The New Nashville Cats as a child inspired him. He also talks about contest fiddling and his 15 year stint with @rickyskaggs and Kentucky Thunder, alongside @thecodykilby , who features on Aced as well as its predecessor The American Fiddler.
After a decade and a half with Ricky, Andy chose to step away from Kentucky Thunder to focus on music in the ministry. We talk about the role that plays in his life and the records he made during that period, as well as the project that eventually turned into The American Fiddler and how that then led to Aced.
Link in bio or listen wherever you get your podcasts
#bluegrass #bluegrassmusic #fiddle
Had a great time of fellowship and conversation with Kyle Cantrell at @banjo.radio for the upcoming episode of “Liner Notes”! Thanks so much for having me, Kyle!
Check it out at these times:
Friday, May 8 at 6 PM CDT
Saturday, May 9 at 8 AM CDT
Sunday, May 10 at 5 PM CDT
Monday, May 11 at 10 AM and 9 PM CDT
Also available On Demand (starting 5/11) on the BanjoRadio Premium App.
#andyleftwich #banjoradio #bluegrassmusic #newbluegrassmusic #kylecantrell artistinterviews
Life can deliver some hard blows and no one is exempt from troubles and trials. We read in Matthew 11:28 where Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. He offers us peace in the middle of our storm and we don’t have to walk through it alone. As bad as it can seem sometimes, there is always something to hold onto in this sin cursed world that we live in. Jesus has already conquered sin and death for us and he carries us through when we trust him. We talk about suffering here below, but let’s keep following Jesus.
“Aced” is available for streaming on all platforms and for purchase at andyleftwich.com.
#andyleftwich #talkaboutsuffering #instrumental #bluegrass #mountainhomemusic
The idea of this song was to have an upbeat “barn burner” that could lend itself to some really creative soloing and I feel like we captured that here. I have to give the credit of the title to my wife, Rachel, who heard me mention this phrase while in the studio recording it. We were moving along but not at the pace I was hoping so we were behind on time. At the end of the day, she mentioned naming this song, “Behind the 8 Ball”. I thought it was perfect! It certainly has that anxious spirit we all have from time to time when we get in tough spots but it’s a fun tune that has great energy and a different sound than you normally hear in bluegrass “barn burner” instrumentals.
“Aced” is available for streaming on all platforms and for purchase at andyleftwich.com.
#andyleftwich #behindthe8ball #instrumental #bluegrass #mountainhomemusic
Every once in a while, you sit down with your instrument and a melody just seems to fall out. That’s exactly what happened here! Even though it’s a fiddle tune, I actually wrote it on my guitar. After a few small changes to the melody, I finally landed on something that flowed well under the fingers, not only for the fiddle, but the lead guitar part as well. I was honored to have my good friend, @thecodykilby , to take the lead on the guitar for this one! It’s so much fun to play and was named after the town of “Old Hickory”, not far from where I live.
“Aced” is available for streaming on all platforms and for purchase at andyleftwich.com.
#andyleftwich #oldhickory #instrumental #bluegrass #mountainhomemusic
Had a great time catching up with my friend Kyle Cantrell with @banjo.radio today! We covered every track on my new album, “Aced”, and how my early fiddle contest days set me on a career path for the next 30 years and counting! Thanks so much, Kyle, for having me on! Stay tuned for the air date for “Liner Notes”, coming soon!
#kylecantrell #banjoradio #linernotes #andyleftwich #aced
I recently sat down with my friends at @mountainhomemusic to talk a little bit about each song from my new album, “Aced”. The title track was inspired by one of my heroes, @sambushband .
“Aced” is available for streaming on all platforms and for purchase at andyleftwich.com.
#andyleftwich #aced #instrumental #bluegrass #mountainhomemusic
Thanks so much to @thebluegrasssituation for featuring my cut of “Crossville”! One of the greatest joys of playing music with @rickyskaggs was getting a chance to jam on his original instrumentals! They all have great melodies and are structured in a way that gives you an opportunity to stretch out and push yourself. This song is certainly that. Ricky has always inspired me with his creativity and heart behind each note that he plays and I always looked forward to playing this one with him each night! It’s one of my favorites! I thought I’d pay homage to my friend and former boss by recording one of his wonderful compositions, “Crossville”!
Link in my stories.
#andyleftwich #rickyskaggs #crossville #instrumental #bluegrass
I’m so grateful to have met and gotten to know Mickey Gamble over the last few years. His heart for music and musicians was as big as anyone I have ever met. I’m so thankful for the trust and confidence that he had in me and for believing in my music. He would always come into the studio as we were recording and just enjoy the music. I’ll never forget his reaction to the our cut of “Talk About Suffering” and how it seemed to move him. It has been an honor to make music for him over the past few years and I look forward to making more music with Mountain Home Music to further his legacy in our genre.
#mickeygamble #mountainhomemusic
