Gentle on my Mind (Extended Version / 6:25 min.)
Gentle On My Mind – (John C. Hartford – Music By Walnut Creek Publishing, BMI / John Hartford Enterprises, BMI)
Tony Trischka: Banjo
Billy Strings: Vocal & Guitar
Michael Cleveland: Fiddle
Sam Bush: Mandolin
Mark Schatz: Upright Bass
Billy Strings appears courtesy of Reprise Records
Produced by Béla Fleck
Arrangements by Tony Trischka
Recorded at Parlor Studios, Nashville, TN
Engineered by Eli Crews
Mixing by Jim Robeson
Banjo virtuoso Tony Trischka today announces Earl Jam 2, the highly anticipated follow-up to his GRAMMY and IBMA Award-nominated 2023 release Earl Jam.
Hailed by The New York Times as “the father of modern bluegrass” and by NPR as “the great banjo liberationist,” Trischka has spent more than six decades redefining what the banjo can do while remaining deeply rooted in tradition. With Earl Jam 2, he continues an extraordinary mission: bringing to life previously unheard recordings of Earl Scruggs and John Hartford jamming at Scruggs’ home between 1987 and 1998.
Earl Jam 2 will be available March 13, 2026, with pre-orders launching today alongside the album’s third single: a stunning rendition of John Hartford’s “Gentle On My Mind,” featuring special guest vocalist and guitarist Billy Strings.
Today’s release is accompanied by a music video (directed by Trischka’s son, musician Sean Trischka) that features exclusive footage from the Nashville recording sessions, offering an intimate look at the creative process behind this remarkable project.
“These recordings reveal Scruggs at his most relaxed, adventurous, and inspired,” says Trischka, who was sent the cache on a thumb drive containing hundreds of hours of music. During the pandemic, he immersed himself in the recordings, transcribing Scruggs’ banjo solos note-for-note. The result is faithful recreations that capture Scruggs’ spirit while allowing today’s finest musicians to bring the music vividly into the present. “When I started listening to these recordings, I was just mesmerized,” Trischka recalls. “Earl was unleashed—swinging for the fences and playing things I’d never heard before, even after studying his music since 1963.”
Earl Jam 2 features fifteen newly recorded performances spanning traditional standards, deep-cut fiddle tunes, and iconic American songs including “Gentle on My Mind,” “Red River Valley,” and “That’s All Right.” Trischka enlisted an extraordinary cast of collaborators for this project including Strings, Sam Bush, Dudley Connell, Sierra Ferrell, the Gibson Brothers, Del and Ronnie McCoury, Bruce Molsky, Sister Sadie, the SteelDrivers, Molly Tuttle, and rising artist Farayi Malek.
The selections on the set cover a wide swath of musical ground, ranging from the SteelDrivers’ muscular take on “Lost John,” Del and Ronnie McCoury’s stirring rendition of “Columbus Stockade Blues,” and Sister Sadie’s sonorous harmonies on “Maple on the Hill,” to name a few. Moments of joy and surprise surface throughout, including Sam Bush’s playful take on “Here Comes the Bride” that reflects the humor and spontaneity of the original Scruggs–Hartford sessions.
While grounded in archival material, Earl Jam 2 feels vibrantly alive, connecting bluegrass history to its present and future. More than a tribute, the album is a living conversation with Earl Scruggs, carried forward by one of his most devoted and imaginative heirs.
On March 12, Tony Trischka will launch a residency at New York City’s Symphony Space. Over three consecutive Thursday evenings, he will be joined by musician friends including Nora Brown, Michael Daves, Béla Fleck, Steve Martin, Jerron Paxton, and surprise guests as they celebrate the rich history of the banjo and perform selections from Trischka’s vast catalog. For tickets and information, go to: Symphony Space – Tony Trischka in Residence.
Trischka will be on tour throughout 2026. A full list of confirmed shows is below, and more dates will be announced in the coming weeks.