Mark Delaney's Official Banjo

Link to video of Mark and friends playing with Mike Auldridge at the Station Inn on Killing Me Softly/This Ain't Grass.

 

 Get a copy of my CD "SIDECAR" HERE at the Patuxent website 

Download MP3 Files of Sidecar at amazon.com 

or you can purchase a copy of the CD from our friends at ELDERLY INSTRUMENTS. 

Reviews of "SideCar" 

Bluegrass Unlimited

SIDECAR

Patuxent Music
CD175

Even with his extensive list of experiences, having played with regional favorites Patuxent Partners, Badly Bent, and the Good Deale Bluegrass Band, as well as with Randy Waller & The Country Gentlemen, the name Mark Delaney may not ring any bells for some listeners, but this banjo picker makes his sonic mark on the listeners’ memory with his new album.

Drawing inspiration from the Kentuckyborn grandfather that taught him the banjo and from his father, a jazz critic, Delaney builds on the Scruggs style with fantastic single string work as well as innovative melodies. Although he builds on the foundation the outcome is still deeply rooted in tradition. Along for the ride in this “Sidecar” are a group of likewise tradition-minded musicians: Barry Reid on bass, Audie Blaylock on guitar, Jesse Brock on mandolin, and Michael Cleveland on fiddle.

Song choices run the gamut from classic bluegrass (“Baby Blue Eyes,” “Fireball Express,” and “Black Diamond”) to classic country (“Six Days On The Road,” “Who Done It?”). Being as this is a banjo picker’s album, there are some great instrumentals, five of which were written by Delaney. It is within the range of songs that Delaney shines. While many players would want to make it known that it is their solo album, Delaney takes the opposite tact and lays back to the point of being unnoticeable on many of the tracks that feature vocals.

One of the fun things about a musicians’ solo album is the addition of guest vocalists. In this case, Delaney brings along some of his picking buddies and bandmates to showcase some fine regional talent that might not be familiar to people outside of the area. Singers Charles Thompson, Bryan Deere, Rusty Vint, John Miller, Tom Mindte, Dede Wyland, and Clarke Howard bring variety to the album. (Patuxent Music, P.O. Box 572, Rockville, MD 20848 )

~CEB

 Listen to audio of Mark's tune "Birdbath" HERE

 SingOut!

SideCar

Patuxent 175

Maryland-born banjoist Mark Delaney began to play at the age of 11. His Kentucky-born grandfather was a player and he introduced the instrument to Mark. Eventually, he began to perform professionally in regional bands in the D.C. area. In time, he was playing with such luminaries as Jim Eanes, Frank Wakefield, Charlie Waller and Mike Auldridge. At the time of this recording, Mark was holding down the banjo seat in The Country Gentlemen while maintaining a day job as a BMW motorcycle mechanic (thus the title of the CD). The core band features some heavy hitters: Michael Cleveland, fiddle; Audie Blaylock, guitar; Jesse Brock, mandolin; and Barry Reid, bass. This is his first solo CD.

Sidecar opens with "Candlewood," a spirited instrumental written by Mark which highlights his aggressive driving style. It's the perfect showcase for the interplay between the banjo and the fiddle. "Baby Blue Eyes," from the pen of Jim Eanes, follows, and features the fine vocals of Charles Thompson. This is great traditional bluegrass with a wonderful swinging pulse. Up next is "McCormick String Picnic," another fine instrumental out of the Monroe school, spotlighting Jesse Brock's mandolin and Michael Cleveland's fiddle.

I dispute the writing credit of Boxcar Willie for "Six Days on the Road," but that doesn't tarnish the performance. Bryan Deere must have been channeling Gram Parsons for vocal inspiration. This tune, surprisingly, is seldom performed by bluegrass artists.

Dede Wyland and Randy Barrett team up for the vocals on "Fire in the Heart." It's great to hear the former Skyline vocalist again on this tune about lost love.

Carter Stanley's "Let Me Walk Lord By Your Side" closes the CD. The arrangement features the bluesy fiddle of Michael Cleveland and the vocals of Tom Mindte, John Miller, Mark Delaney and Clark Howard.

There's not a hint of newgrass on Sidecar, and Mark Delaney is certainly a banjo force to be reckoned with. He has surrounded himself with a solid band and wonderful vocalists, and produced an album of extraordinary power.

~TD