Passages by Ethan Sherman

This is a sort of sequel to my last record. Like that album, this is also a collection of original bluegrass instrumentals. However, instead of "Indoor Vistas”’ sculpted facsimile of a live band, "Passages" is a celebration of in-the-moment improvisation and interplay, rendered with some of my favorite musicians in the acoustic-music community.

Although my name’s on the cover, I don’t view it as a showcase for my guitar playing: it’s all about the band. I tried to write tunes to highlight everyone’s unique voices on their instruments, and arrange them for maximum opportunity for us all to interact deeply in real time. We camped out at Nashville’s Sound Emporium for a few days and had a whale of a time.

“Passages” has a few meanings: passages of music; rites of passage (this album feels like one); my traveling to Nashville to make this record and the long and winding road it took to complete it. We initially planned to record in May 2022, but I got Covid and had to cancel the session a few days prior. Not long after, I joined Michael Bublé’s band and then spent the next 1.5 years touring the world. That afforded more time for me to get the music together, but made re-scheduling a challenge.

We squeezed in this session just after New Year’s 2023. Before and after we recorded, I was writing tunes and sending Wes & Dave mix notes from tour buses and hotel rooms as far afield as Brazil and Australia. I hope this music has that spirit of travel and adventure in it somehow, too.

Ethan Sherman plays guitar and writes music in Los Angeles. He’s recorded and performed with artists as diverse as Sarah Jarosz, Michael Bublé, The Wailin' Jennys, Nels Cline, Patrick Shiroishi, Adam Levy, Ed Helms, and Jerry Douglas.

ethanshermanmusic.com
Harmolodic String Band
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