Past Projects
Tony Rice ‘85-‘90
I worked with this Bluegrass icon as part of the Tony Rice Unit from‘85 to ’90, including road managing the band. There was a transcendent quality to his artistry, and I was fortunate to play on Me and My Guitar, Native American, Tony Rice Plays and Sings Bluegrass, and Sweet Sunny South, Volume Five of the Bluegrass Album Band.
Early Morning Rain with the Tony Rice Unit (Wyatt Rice, Jimmy Gaudreau, Mark Schatz), and guest Vassar Clements
Shadows, New Country, 1986: Tony Rice, Wyatt Rice, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Mark Schatz
Molly & Tenbrooks Merlefest ‘92 jam with Tony Rice, Bela Fleck, Mark O’Connor, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Mark Schatz
Blue Ridge Cabin Home, Big Spike Hammer, Bluegrass Album Band, IBMA 1991
Tim O’Brien ‘90-‘98
To this day one of my favorite multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriters. Tim created a great groove with whatever instrument he held in his hand. Add to that a beautiful, powerful, expressive and versatile voice, and a range of writing that included love songs, political satire, social commentary, and everything in between, and you’ve got a formative artist who much enriched my life. We performed a good bit with his sister, Mollie, and the sibling harmony was off the charts!
Heartbreak Game, Tim O’Brien and the O’Boys, Austin City Limits
John Hartford ‘98-‘01
He was quirky, brilliant, a consummate performer, and working with him on and off between ‘98 and ‘01 was truly a formative experience. I played on his CD Good Old Boys. :
Gentle On My Mind: John Hartford, Chris Sharp, Mike Compton, Mark Schatz, Kentucky Folk Festival, Bardstown, KY 1998
Mark Schatz & Friends
After I recorded my first solo CD, Brand New Old Tyme Way in ‘94, I worked with various configurations to perform this music. But when I asked Jim Hurst, Missy Raines, and Casey Driessen to do a show with me in North Carolina it was as if the color and groove I’d been searching for had finally arrived. There was a consensus amongst us about this so we took it on the road and ultimately recorded my second solo CD, Steppin’ In The Boiler House.
Bring ‘Em Home, Grey Fox Festival 7 ‘02
Nickel Creek ‘03-‘07, ‘14
This was a new generation of players who were bringing a younger audience into the bluegrass fold with high energy, superlative musicianship, and contemporary influences in their music. They literally grew up listening to recordings that I’d played on. It turns out that skills I had to hold down a groove in an acoustic setting was exactly what they needed at the time. Those shows were a unique rush; it was what I called a “two hands on the steering wheel” kind of gig.
Destination, Nickel Creek, Austin City Limits, 1 ‘15
The Rest Of My Life, Nickel Creek, KFOG Radio, 5 ‘14
Extraoridinary Machine, Nickel Creek & Fiona Apple, 8 ‘07
Claire Lynch ‘07-‘17
One of Bluegrass and acoustic music’s biggesnt talents as a singer/songwriter, and a dear heart. Both her music and her friendship left an indelible mark on my life. Noone can make you both smile and cry like Claire Lynch. It was in her band that I met Bryan McDowell with whom I’m currently touring as a duo.
Once The Teardrops Start to Fall, The Claire Lynch Band, Music City Roots, 7 ‘13
Jeff Scroggins and Colorado
I met Greg Blake at the Mid-Winter Bluegrass Festival in Denver in 2013 and was bowled over by his sweet, powerful, and expressive voice and his driving guitar playing. The following year I played on his first solo project, and soon after a recording by the band he was working with, Jeff Scroggins and Colorado. I subsequently started doing some shows with them because they were so much fun to play with. Greg, Jeff’s son, Tristan, and fiddler Ellie Hakanson all gathered around one mic, and Jeff was nearby on another mic, so we could all hear each other well enough that we didn’t need monitors. It was a rocking little bluegrass juggernaut and they were great folks to hang with. One of the best times I’ve had on the road was a tour of Ireland that I did with them. I was fortunate to be asked to produce and play on their last project, Over The Line, which I’m very proud of.
