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St. Valentine's Reel (10th Anniversary Remix)

from City Lights: 10th Anniversary Remixes by Jasper's Cast

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As a mandolin player, you can't cut an album and not have a bluegrass number. Unheard of. St. Valentine's Reel was our answer to that.

One problem of having two high register instruments is that it is difficult to maintain the low end. Luckily, Jackson came up with the solution of tuning his guitar into open tunings or the DADGAD tuning in order to bring in and sustain that low end. The melody that begins this song is just one of the riffs that can naturally come from an open tuning. As soon as I heard it, I knew it would be amazing for a bluegrass instrumental. So, Jackson and I sat down and worked out the progression. I believe it was on Valentine's Day, a breakup was involved, and Jackson naturally brought his guitar so that I could take my mind off everything. Hence the name of the song! When we showed it to Eric, he loved it because he could change up what he played every time. Half of bluegrass is just playing what comes to mind and having fun!

Well, in the recording process, that can be both a blessing and curse. Right up to the last minute, Eric and I were deciding exactly how we wanted to play our parts. When our turns came to record our parts, we just played what came into our heads. I distinctly remember Jackson giving me the cue for my part and deciding in my head, "I'm going to change it up!" That's just the fun part about making music: seeing where the process takes you! And when it was Eric's part, he did the same thing (he did that for just about every part of the album...)

Luckily, Jackson is a pro! He laid down his parts and then asked Mari to add some violin (and saxophone!). We wanted to incorporate the violin more than just once on our album and knew that St. Val's would be a great fit for it. Even when Eric and I play it live all these years later, I still miss Mari's violin; she did such a great job!

Relistening to St. Val's, I remembered how much fun this song was to write and record - just making our instruments harmonize and shine through. Ten years later, this song is still so much fun to play. More importantly, every time I play this song, I remember how much fun I had laughing, learning, talking, and playing music with my best friends!

-- Scott

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from City Lights: 10th Anniversary Remixes, released April 15, 2021

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Jasper's Cast San Antonio, Texas

Combine electric amplification with acoustic bluegrass instruments and you get Jasper's Cast. But don't forget to add some catchy melodies, rich harmonies, and untamed live shows, and then you've got what Jasper's Cast is all about. Give them a listen and come see them sometime. They might just keep you dancing all night. ... more

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