Lee Highway brings together five accomplished and highly respected musicians from the
Northwest Bluegrass community, to produce a mix of tight, tuneful harmony singing, backed up with exciting instrumentals. Based in
Oregon, John Averill, Rich Hoglen, Sue Averill, Mike Eisler and Mike Stahlman bring decades of experience in playing and performing. Throw them all in the same pot and the combined magic takes you straight back to the Golden Era of Bluegrass.
Lee Highway is making that old sound spanking new, whether it's burning rubber on a fast driving instrumental, drawing you in with their close harmony gospel singing or setting your feet loose with a 50's honky-tonk dance tune.
But heck, don't believe us - just read what everyone else is saying:
- Regarding "Bluegrass Music" and "When He Reached Down His Hand For Me", Al Shusterman of KCBL in Sacramento, CA says: "The songs in these cds are the "real deal". "From the first note of each project until the last note is completed, both of these projects just barrel ahead at 100mph. Many of the songs on these projects are bluegrass classics and you have given them new life."
- Al Shusterman, Backroads Bluegrass Show
KCBL Radio, Sacramento, CA
- "If an audience loves PURE, TRADITIONAL
Bluegrass music,
Lee Highway is there to deliver it. With tight vocals, high-level instrumentals and fantastic stage presence,
Lee Highway works it's way through their set-list with the confidence and ease!The audience can always count on a fantastic show from
Lee Highway."
- Sharon Sandgren, Bluegrass Concert Producer
Gresham Little Theater and Troutdale Bite and
Bluegrass. May 2006
- Now here is a band to be reckoned with. Rich's vocals just knock me out. He sounds like Lester Flatt when Lester was very young and in his prime. Between John Averill burning it up on the mandolin and delivering those great high tenor harmonies and Mike Eislers "eat your heart out Kenny Baker/Buddy Spicher fiddling," you had to ask yourself, how could they do better than that. Up steps Mike Stahlman on the banjo and just played the perfect Earl Scruggs banjo licks; and his back-up banjo is second to nobody's. If that wasn't enough, he picks up the guitar and does 4 great old Earl Scruggs guitar oriented songs, that you could close your eyes and swear it was Earl on the guitar. Holding it all together was the other great female bass player in the
Pacific Northwest, Sue Averill, John's wife.
-
Ken Cartwright,
Oregon
Bluegrass Newsletter February 2007
- Having been raised in
Virginia and
West Virginia, I listened to the old time roots style bluegrass for years. My friends, you have taken me back to that era and in style! The vocals and harmony were outstanding and the musical talents of your group are awesome. Please let Mike Eisler know that I have never heard better fiddle playing in all of my 58 years on this planet.
- David and Carol Bridges,
Portland, Or. January 2007