Scott Slay - The Rail (2019)

I am honored to have worked with some amazing talent and good people on this project. It is very humbling to have musicians such as Sammy Shelor and Mark Schatz playing my music with me, while contributing their own personal interpretations into the mix, said Scott Slay. I've been playing all kinds of bluegrass since I was a kid. I know there's something for every bluegrass fan on this project. The Rail includes 13 new recordings, all spotlighting Slay's unique style, which combines multiple genres to create a one-of-a-kind sound. The singer also took his songwriting to a new level, penning the majority of the tracks on the collection. Additional featured artists on the project are Mike Munford, Andy Hall, Scott Vestal, Josh Shilling and Brandon Rickman who all lended their musical talents. Instrumentalists playing on The Rail are Sammy Shelor (banjo), Mark Schatz (bass), Jim VanCleve (fiddle), Aaron Ramsey (mandolin), Steve Lazar (bass), Dustin Benson (mandolin), and more. The sound was heavily influenced by Slay's top musical hero, progressive Bluegrass pioneer Sam Bush. In addition to Truth Came Out (written by Scott Slay and his wife, Brittany Slay), there are several other standout moments on The Rail, with songs hitting the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. One of those key moments is on the thought-provoking opening title-track, which tells the story about taking a train around the country, detailing all of the experiences in-between. Another highlight is the edgy Atlanta Blues (Make Me a Pallet) which features genre favorite Josh Shilling singing harmony. The Freddy Donovan penned Green Valley details a distant, picturesque scene, witnessed while moving on.