When you're faced with a really great talent, you're at first infatuated with the gift and absorbing the opportunity, and then the next moment comes and you're like, “Wait, how could they be so obsessed with that kind of talent?” Have you ever had that moment where you thought, “Am I really that good?” When you were young? ”
Concert attendees at Mary's Place, located within destination store Taos Lifestyle, will hear award-winning singer, songwriter, and mandolinist AJ Lee and her rising bluegrass band. You will probably experience similar moments. Taos Lifestyle's Mary Domito has already had that moment with AJ Lee and her Blue Summit. “It’s safe to say I saw them here in Taos,” she said of the band.
In addition to Lee, who has been playing mandolin since the ripe old age of four, the band consists of Scott Gates on guitar, Jean Pratt on fiddle, and Sullivan Tuttle on guitar. This band more or less falls into the bluegrass genre, but does not include a banjo player. Instead, Gates and Tuttle play steel-string acoustic guitars, which, along with Lee's mandolin and Purat's fiddle, have helped the band create its signature sound of bluegrass, country, soul, swing, and rock. Ta.
Lee said Blue Summit technically started playing together in 2015, but “then we all started coming together.” We spoke with Lee, who hails from her hometown of California, about the West Coast bluegrass scene. “A lot of people are surprised that California has a strong bluegrass scene. I grew up seeing it primarily through my mother. They put me in the program and the rest is history.'' Since she was so young and the small mandolin fit her perfectly, it made sense to start playing the mandolin. “It's strange starting music at such a young age, but I've never felt like I had to perform, it's just a part of me. When I was little, I couldn't reach the microphone, so my mom I remember making him move closer to the microphone.
Lee now has no trouble reaching the microphone, and her near-clear voice helps the band find a rhythm. “I feel like I'm getting busier every year,” said the singer-songwriter who doesn't mind leading an all-male band. “Taos is a special place to us. When we were preparing our latest album, we held a band retreat in Taos, did workshops, wrote songs, and put the album together. We made some great memories.”
The album, which will be their second, is scheduled for release in July. Lee explained that they will be playing a mix of old and unreleased songs from their first album. “I'm excited to be playing at Mary's Place. She's very much an artist herself and dabbles in all kinds of things,” said Lee, who is involved in various organizations and initiatives, including bringing quality music to Taos. Commented about Domito, a community leader who supports .
“We're excited to have them coming back to Taos for a third time, and we're especially excited for them to be playing at Mary's Place,” Domit said. “They are world-class musicians and fronted by AJ Lee, a great songwriter with a very pure, clean voice.”
In a short period of time, AJ Lee & Blue Summit has garnered significant attention and awards. Already on their resumes are Best Female Vocalist (awarded nine times), Best Bluegrass Band, Best Mandolin Player, Best Guitar Player, Freshgrass Band Contest Winner, and IBMA Momentum Vocalist of the Year. , National Flatpicking Award, and other awards are listed.
When asked what the best part of being AJ Lee is, this young woman with an old soul thoughtfully replies, “I love being AJ Lee. I can bring people together who become my best friends. '' Lee spoke about her love of playing music and the band's camaraderie. She said: “We are inspired by each other.”
AJ Lee and Blue Summit are scheduled to perform at Mary's Place inside Taos Lifestyle, 815 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, on Sunday, February 25th at 6 p.m. The suggested donation for the concert is $20. CDs, records, and other merchandise are also available for purchase. For more information, visit bluesummitmusic.com.
