She’s a genre blender. Innovator. Three-time Grammy winner. Gotta be Alison Brown. If you missed Alison and the Band last June, I advise you not to make that mistake again: They are returning to the Opera House Friday the 13th - yes, this month, for a 7 p.m. show. Got tickets? No? You best get on that.

Discovering Alison Brown and her music last year (yeah, yeah ... hey, better late to the party than never arriving, right?), I felt like I was hearing the banjo for the first time. It's a combination of Alison's writing and playing, obviously, but it's also the musicians in the band she's making music with and their instruments: Jody Nordone, piano; Jordan Perlson, percussion; John Ragusa, flute; husband/buisness partner Garry West on bass, and Alison playing banjo and sometimes, guitar. A flutist? Brilliant! The music Alison and the band make has its roots in the classic country vibe, but is truly a progressive blending of the banjo's country history with some bluegrass, jazz, country, Celtic, folk and even classical influences. The concert last year became one of my favorites at the Opera House.

One more note (hehehheh) from that show: “Sun and Water” from the 2023 LP “On Banjo.” What a gorgeous, dreamy melding it is of George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun” and Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Waters of March.” I’m attaching a video to the online version of this column so you can hear and feel it, too.

Since they were here, over at Compass Records, Alison and Garry have been busy producing albums. She says they do around a dozen each year. One such album with a tentative fall release in the works is a collection (eight or nine) songs written by Alison and Steve Martin. Remember back in the mid-70s when during his stand-up performances he would whip out a banjo, play briefly, put it down  ... who knew he could really play? The first time was on “The Gong Show." I forget what the tune was, but all of us (a group who gathered to experience that off-beat, gonzo show) realized Steve Martin was a damn fine musician.

Anyway, the whole point of that brief reminiscence is we all realized that instrument wasn’t a prop. Steve Martin and Alison Brown play so well together. They've got soulful connections with their banjos. And there's digression number one for ya.

When the band hasn’t been on the road over this past year, over to Compass Records,  Alison and Garry have been busy producing albums; one of which is by the band Della Mae based out of Boston. The couple are continuing work on a Stanley Brothers tribute album (80th anniversary) with guest singers/musicans including Willie Nelson (played a great guitar solo), Dolly Parton, Sean Camp and Rhiannon Giddens.

Working on the upcoming album, “It’s been so exciting writing music with Steve Martin. I never thought I’d get to do something that cool and it’s been so unexpectedly easy; there’s so much positive energy that ideas just seem to fall out of the sky. It’s really exciting to see where the music has taken us.”

In my column last year, I wrote about Alison and Steve's two bluegrass #1 songs on the bluegrass charts, “Foggy Morning Breaking” and “Bluegrass Radio.” Well, history is repeating itself (as it does) this year with their tune “5 Days Out, 2 Days Back” with vocals by the legendary bluegrass/mandolin master Tim O’Brien.

When I spoke with Alison the last week of May, “5 Days” was rising on the bluegrass charts and by June 1 her publicist sent the email announcing it had risen to number one. Steve’s lyrics are about life on the road and what precious little time artists have to spend at their home address. It must be very difficult following one’s passion while keeping it close and real where the home fires burn …

As she’s done before, including last year, chances are good, OK, more than good, Alison will bring her 1894 banjeaurine along to play “Banjo Homecoming Rag,” the song she was inspired to write after learning the Opera House was as old her banjo. I’ve attached a video of her performing the tune with Chris Walters and John Ragusa to the online version of this column.

“I’m so excited to be coming back to Boothbay Harbor and the Opera House – it’s my favorite place to play,” she said. “The band is really cracking we’ve been playing a lot - CO, AR, NH… we’ve really been on the move.”

Great, I say while thinking, but what about the “Banjo Homecoming Rag?” Then, as if reading my mind, Alison adds, “It is hard, though, not to bring the banjeaurine with us when we’re there ...”

Right! I say, adding I was sure the resident spirits would dig it, too ...

Tickets are on sale, but I'd advise you not to dawdle and risk missing one fine night of music in gorgeous Boothbay Harbor. Purchase your ticket(s) through the box office - $35/advance - by calling 207-633-5159 or stop by in person at 86 Townsend Ave. between 10 am. and 2 p.m. Wednesday - Friday; or buy online - $40 - on the official Boothbay Harbor Opera House website: https://boothbayoperahouse.com

https://www.boothbayregister.com/article/banjo-alison-brown-and-one-fine-band/187082