"Walkin' to the Bridge"

Number 40 on WNCW's Top 50 Bluegrass CD's of 2007

"Walkin' to the Bridge" features the collaborative talents of nine North Carolina pickers and singers. Town Mountain's Robert Greer sings lead on the tongue-in-cheek tear-jerker "Etch A Sketch of Love" and the seriously heartfelt "Don't Mourn For Me." Cary Fridley, former Freighthopper (winner of the "Talent From Towns Under 2000" competition on NPR's "A Prairie Home Companion") appears solo and unaccompanied on the haunting ballad "Nightbird." Also featured are Daniel Coolik of One Leg Up, Jay Mullenax and Paul Leech of County Farm, and Lance Mills of the Cavemen. Capping off the lineup are Nicky Sanders, who fiddles full-time with Steep Canyon Rangers (2006 IBMA Emerging Artists of the Year), and banjo wizard Ryan Cavanaugh, on a break from touring with jazz saxophonist Bill Evans.

Tom Dudley, sole guitarist, also plays mandolin and sings lead on three of the selections. The tunes on this release, six vocals and five instrumentals, are Tom's original compositions. Although the instrumentation is that of a bluegrass band — guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin and bass — the music itself reveals bluegrass, jazz, blues and Celtic influences, a mix as free-wheeling as its creator. Trained in classical guitar, rock and jazz, Tom took his career behind the scenes to work for synthesizer pioneer Robert Moog. The rich music scene in Asheville eventually pulled him back onstage, and he left Moog Music to make his own music, full-time. In 2001, he helped found County Farm, a bluegrass band "that borders on nuclear" (Mountain Express).

"Walkin' to the Bridge" is the natural result of Tom's appreciation for mountain music, and for the young artists who honor that heritage as the music evolves with each generation. With each of the eleven tunes he composed for this release, Tom had one of the featured singers or pickers in mind. Different people, different sounds—old as the proverbial hills, and fresh as a blast of bebop banjo. Independently produced, and mixed and mastered by Grammy winner Nathan Milner, "Walkin' to the Bridge" is a journey that covers a lot of ground.

"Walkin' To The Bridge" is acoustic music in its finest form and certainly recommended for anyone who doesn't shy away from exploring unique approaches to bluegrass music."
- Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine

"Guitarist Tom Dudley has assembled a group of fellow North Carolinians to produce a fine selection of music.
This is not your typical first solo effort. There’s a wealth of exciting talent to be heard here. Whatever your tastes in music, this album offers something for everyone."
- Robert Steelman, Bluegrass Music Profiles (BMP)

"You've hit the high lonesome ball out of the park on your new project, "Walkin' to the Bridge," as you deftly traverse a number of traditions...Your guitar playing is at a high level and you've written some really neat instrumentals...Thanks again for a truly memorable project."
- Dave Higgs, Bluegrass Breakdown, National Public Radio

"Tom Dudley’s "Walkin’ To The Bridge" is Americana at it’s best, flirting with bluegrass, country, blues, and old time mountain music. The songwriting, singing, picking, and production all come together for an exceptionally entertaining CD."
- John Roten, Mountain Music Time, AM1400 The Peak

"I have enjoyed Tom Dudley's "Walkin' to the Bridge" very much. Each of these songs has something unique about it, calling out with its own emotion. Tom could make an outstanding collection of songs based solely on his guitar work, but he has artistically blended with it the work of several top notch musicians. The result is entertaining and quite interesting. I would recommend it to anyone, regardless of your musical prejudice."
- Steve Vance, CD Baby customer