15 years ago I released ‘white blazes’, an album made while hiking on the Appalachian Trail. A place that feels like my true home. Always residing in the depths of my mind, calling me back to the solitude and beauty that only nature can provide. So life recently provided me a little window of a bit over a month to return to this magical trail. Naturally, I thought it was a perfect time to compose a follow up to the original ‘white blazes’ and so you have here before you ‘return to the white blazes’. An album composed in the forests on the AT in Virginia, North Carolina, & Tennessee in the months of October and November of 2016. Back in the early 2000’s when I conceived the first release, I carried a heavy (15+ pound) laptop. The battery would barely hold a charge, and in the colder months of a winter hike would barely work at all. Oh, how times have changed in this short moment between then and now. This trip, I was able to carry 2 cell phones, a tablet, a plethora of power banks, etc. all weighing well under the weight and thoroughly out performing in terms of specs the original laptop. The trip provided much adventure and time for deep thought. I was surrounded with beautiful vistas awash in the splendor of autumn, clean crisp air in the star filled nights. I shared my campsite with packs of coyotes, got interrupted during dinner by a hungry bear, read lots of books, experienced the intensity of forest fires, and generally got rid of years worth of clutter in my head in a way only the trail can provide. It is my hope, that in some way, I may have captured just a bit of that magic in what I present to you here. That in these tones and rhythms you can experience a bit of that solitude and beauty for yourself, and if I failed, I only hope I can encourage you to go out and experience the wonders of nature for yourself. Much Love!