CEDAR GROVE Harley Bray, Pete Martin, Shera Bray "For an intelligent and well-executed set of bluegrass instrumentals primarily featuring banjo and mandolin, "Cedar Grove" is just the ticket." Joe Ross, Staff writer for Bluegrass Now magazine "This is a wonderful all-instrumental recording of old-time and bluegrass music from three of the Pacific Northwest's premier acoustic musicians!" Pete Goodall, Programmer, KBCS Radio, 91.3FM, Seattle, WA CEDAR GROVE CD: $15.00 CLICK HERE TO ORDER

Instrumental Bluegrass Music

A collection of tasty instrumentals, this CD is a collaboration by legendary banjo player Harley Bray and award winning mandolinist-fiddler Pete Martin, supported by the solid guitar backup of Shera Bray.  All three are well know players in the Pacific Northwest Bluegrass scene.

This album features such traditional tunes as the lyrically rendered East Virginia Blues and Kaiser's Waltz, as well as driving numbers such as the title tune Cedar Grove and Roger's Breakdown.  Also introduced are several delightful original tunes by Pete.  With each cut varied in flavor and a gem of musicianship, this is a CD destined to become a favorite in anyone's collection.

Harley Bray (banjo, upright bass) was born into a large musical family, where he learned to play the banjo at the age of 13.  In 1954, he and his brothers Nate and Francis Bray and friend Red Cravens formed Red Cravens and the Bray Brothers, a bluegrass band  that by 1961 had  a morning radio show,  had performed on the Grand Ole Opry, recorded for Liberty Records in Hollywood, and been house band at Bill Monroe’s Bean Blossom  Park.  Recordings of the morning radio shows are available on CD (Rounder CD 1011 and Rounder CD 0015). Circumstances forced the disbanding of the group, but Harley continued to play with wife Shera and others. They moved to the Seattle area in 1983, where he continues to teach, record and perform with several bands.

Pete Martin (mandolin, fiddle, guitar on Kaiser’s Waltz) was bitten by the Bluegrass bug while attending the University of Idaho. He moved to Seattle in 1979 where he is currently a private lesson music teacher. A multi-instrumentalist, he has performed and recorded with many Northwest artists. In 1983, he placed in the top 5 at the National Mandolin Contest, Winfield, Kansas. In 1994, he was Adult National Fiddle Champion, at Weiser, Idaho. Pete is a columnist for Mandolin Magazine and has authored 7 instructional books on mandolin and fiddle playing.

Shera Bray (guitar) first heard bluegrass as a student at the University of Illinois, on the Student Union jukebox. It was a recording by Red Cravens and the Bray Brothers. From that point on, bluegrass music became a focal point of her life as she switched from folk guitar to bluegrass banjo, eventually marrying her mentor, banjoist Harley Bray. Back on guitar, Shera and Harley played at clubs and festivals in Illinois until their move to Seattle in 1981 where they have performed regularly with several bands.

For an intelligent and well-executed set of bluegrass instrumentals primarily featuring banjo and mandolin, "Cedar Grove" is just the ticket.  The diversity of tunes presents a nice variety of stylistic contributions from breakdowns to waltzes, reels to polkas, and bluegrass song melodies to old-time tunes. Why they even close with "Chinatown," the bouncy, old swing number! "Cedar Grove" is a credit to some of Washington State's most accomplished string practitioners -- Harley Bray, Pete Martin, and Shera Bray. The CD's cover is somewhat misleading as this peppy project includes more than just banjo, mandolin and guitar. Upright bass is heard throughout, and fiddle is featured on the "Kaiser's Waltz." I wish that Pete would've added a little more of his fine fiddling, perhaps to one or more of his three originals, "A Tune From My Seventh Album," "Rod's Reel," and "Pickin' on a Flat Rock." Every tune on the album runs a succinct 2.5 to 3 minutes, and these arrangements give both Pete and Harley a chance to serve up a couple tasty breaks apiece, while Shera lays down a nice, solid foundation on guitar rhythm.

On banjo and bass, Harley Bray may be best known for his work with Red Cravens & the Bray Brothers from the Champaign/Urbana, Illinois area. They were also known as The Blue Grass Gentlemen, a name given to them by their Nashville agent. The band formed about 1954 with Red Cravens (guitar), Harley Bray (banjo), Nate Bray (mandolin), and Francis Bray (bass). Their fiddler was Jimmy Raines or occasionally their friend, John Hartford. During the 60s, they had an Illinois morning radio show called "Cornbelt Country Style." They also appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, recorded for Liberty Records, and played as the house band at Bill Monroe's Bean Blossom Park.  The band broke up about 1970 when Nate died from Hodgkins Disease. Since 1981, Harley and his guitar-playing wife, Shera, have lived in Edmonds, Washington, where they perform and record with several bands.

Pete Martin is an impressive multi-instrumentalist. In Seattle since 1979, he is a music teacher, author, and much sought after musician.  In 1983, he placed in the top five at the National Mandolin Contest in  Winfield, Kansas. In 1994, he took the Adult National Fiddle Championship at Weiser, Idaho. His seven instructional books cover Old-Time and Texas-Style mandolin and fiddle playing.

I suspect that this trio undertook this album to showcase their music, without any extra frills or overdubbing, that they present live in concert.  Or perhaps the three friends merely decided to record these tunes for fun.  Whatever their motivation, it's a treat to hear each musician's style and imagination shine through. Combined with their bluegrass drive and spontaneity, the result is a successful and lively variety of instrumentals. "Cedar Grove" will be welcome listen to all who appreciate exceptional musicianship on banjo and mandolin, accompanied by guitar and bass.  Joe Ross, staff writer for BLUEGRASS NOW magazine.

A rare item these days…an instrumental music CD by excellent pickers.  Harley, Pete and Shera deliver up some of the tastiest licks in a long time.  These folks are worth listening to in a great collection of well-picked tunes with first class technical production.  Consider the talent…Harley Bray (banjo & bass) of the famous Bray Brothers, a very smooth banjo picker. Few people ever master the 3-finger style so the smoothness shines through, which makes the banjo truly enjoyable…Harley is one of those people.  Pete Martin is a multi-instrumentalist and is featured on mandolin, fiddle and guitar. His style of picking and playing is so clean and decent you'll be spinning this one many times. Shera Bray, (Harley's wife) provides just the right backup on guitar throughout the CD with class and authority…the advantages of being married to a banjo picker for 30+ years.  Favorites include, "East Virginia Blues," "Kaiser's Waltz," "Black Diamond," and "Pickin' On A Flat Rock."  Great tunes, great delivery.  George McKnight,  Uptown Bluegrass Radio, British Columbia