ABOUT

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Banjo player, producer and songwriter, Mike West, recorded Sawblade Waltz shortly after emigrating from Kansas to Wales in 2019. Collaborating with local artists and musicians, including his twelve year old son, West creates instrumentals with filmic narrative, incorporating the five string banjo in a surprising range of settings and moods.

 

Mike West has recorded and performed on more than two hundred albums. He tours with the cult alt-country duo, Truckstop Honeymoon and runs The 9th Ward Pickin’ Parlor recording studio. Sawblade Waltz is his first instrumental album.

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Recorded, mixed and mastered at The 9th Ward Pickin’ Parlor, Machynlleth, Wales

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THE PLAYERS

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Mark Anderson: jaw harp, circular saw blades, pneumatic sirens

Cerys Hafana: Welsh triple harp

Charlie Hopkins: electric guitars on Dyfi Ramble

František Síč: saxophone

Julian West: drums and percussion

Mike West: five string banjo, guitars, mandolin, Fender Rhodes, kalimba, bass and percussion.

 

All music composed by M. West, except Dawns Elmo by Cerys Hafana with additional arrangement by M West.

Photography by Katie West.

Album art by Julian West