Nickel Creek is currently in the studio with producer Eric Valentine, working on their third album for Sugar Hill Records. Their 2002 release, This Side, won the Grammy for "Best
Contemporary Folk Album," a category that is a fitting home for the band, whose sound builds from an acoustic base to embrace elements of all genres. Producer Eric Valentine has worked with such groups as Good Charlotte, Queens of The Stone Age and Smash Mouth. The album is tentatively scheduled for release in the early summer of 2005.
Meanwhile, mandolinist Chris Thile's fifth solo release, Deceiver, is
eliciting praise for his modern and experimental textures. "...a key
hallmark of Thile's musical personality is as obvious as ever - a rare
ability to blend sophisticated musical ideas with ingratiating hooks.
Perhaps most impressive is that 'Deceiver' is a song-cycle that is as richly
satisfying as an organic whole as it is in its moment-to-moment style hopping." (Chicago Tribune).
Thile will re-visit another facet of his craft when he and Edgar Meyer
embark a 13-city tour in January. Meyer, one of the world's most talented
string bass players - is known for not only his classical and bluegrass
repertories - but, also for his diffuse compositions. The two have worked
together numerous occasions, and the virtuoso played on Thile's instrumental
album, Not All Who Wonder Are Lost.
Fiddler and vocalist Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek has been exploring her
personal musical avenues as well, taking guest turn on Darol Anger and the
American Fiddle Ensemble's Republic of Strings. She's also featured on two
tracks on Trouble, Ray LaMontagne's new album. Guitarist Sean Watkins is
working on new songs for a solo album.
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