Field Recording #2 - Cliff and Jed - Sea of Regret
Oh boy oh boy oh boy! I’m so happy to be sharing Cliff B Worsham and Jed Willis’ Sea of Regret (by the Stanley Brothers).
Cliff B Worsham - Guitar and vocals
Jed Willis - Mandolin and backing vocals
Music and lyrics by The Stanley Brothers
Filmed by Greg Inda
Editing by Lindsey Marks
Mix and Mastered by Bill “Netherlands” Holland
Over the summer I reached out to my friend Lindsey Liden who builds Mulheron Banjos and asked if he knew any musicians in Asheville I should photograph and record for my project. He messaged me back “Jed Willis. Best mandolin player in Asheville.” Not only that, he reached out to Jed for me and said Jed was expecting my call. That’s the kind of referral that you love to get.
For being the second field recording this offered a lot of interesting choices that have immediately set a tone for the the entire project. As I’ve been thinking on this project for the past few months I have had a pretty narrow view of what these forest sessions would look like. I always figured that the strongest connection I could draw was putting instruments in forests that mirrored the hardwoods we use to build instruments. But I knew I’d always be fighting that to some degree. Woods from all over the world, species not native to North America, get used in instruments all the time. Ebony. Italian Cedar. Indian Rosewood. And it is somewhat disingenuous to just film in an Appalachian forest all the time while highlighting these various instruments. But that was something I knew I didn’t need to address immediately. Better to get a few recordings done, build momentum, and see what solutions present themselves.
So here we are. My partner Lindsey and I arrive to this forested area that Jed knows really well. He brings his buddy Cliff to play guitar and sing. And the four of us start down this path. We come to a fork in the path and Jed tells us the left fork leads us to a traditional Appalachian hardwood forest and the right fork goes into a bamboo grove. And now I’ve immediately got to answer my own questions about the project.
It was like I had a fiddler on one shoulder telling me to take the left path and a banjo player on the other telling me to go to the bamboo grove. And my gut was telling me, go to the grove. And so we did! But why? I knew that I deep down the bamboo grove was what I wanted. It would be visually cool. It would be different. But also I’ve thought a lot about bamboo over the years and I know what an important resource it has been to millions of people.
Back in 2013 I did a 45 day South American trip with my friend Christian. But it started with a few days solo in Panama. I saw the Panama canal, toured around Panama City, and spent a little time in the rainforest. I saw a sloth! As we were driving down some dirt roads we passed a bamboo farm, and my guide Rudy told me just how many products bamboo was used in. Paper, sheets, shirts, furniture, flooring, toothbrushes, marimbas, phone cases. The list goes on and on. I started thinking about planting bamboo at our farm in Wisconsin, but a bunch of friends on Facebook quickly said “once it starts growing you’ll never get rid of it!”. So that idea was quickly dropped. But the core idea that bamboo is a uniquely varied and useful resource is something I’ve never forgotten.
And thats why the bamboo pulled me for this recording. Because at the core I’m not just talking about wood that make up guitars, we’re talking about how the forest enables us to connect with one another. And bamboo enables that in myriad ways. So reflect on that as you listen to Cliff and Jed play this amazing version of Sea of Regret.
What to know about Cliff B Worsham:
A folk artist hailing from the heart of Appalachia in Western North Carolina, whose music weaves the stories of his roots with an honest, soul-stirring sound. Known for his raw, emotive voice and unique finger picking guitar style, Cliff’s journey to folk music was anything but conventional.
Before finding peace in the rhythms and melodies of his heritage, he was the frontman of Secret Lives, a melodic hardcore band that left its mark on the underground scene. As the lead singer, Cliff poured his heart into the fast-paced, passionate world of hardcore punk, carving out a space for himself in a genre defined by intensity and emotional release.
However, after years of navigating the high-energy chaos of the music world, Cliff turned inward, seeking a new creative outlet rooted in the Appalachian landscapes that shaped his early years. Embracing the simplicity and depth of folk music, he transitioned to crafting songs that reflect his personal growth and introspection. His sound is now an intimate blend of acoustic melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and the quiet strength that only a lifetime in the mountains can provide.
Through his solo work, Cliff B. Worsham explores themes of healing, connection, and the enduring power of finding one's own peace. Drawing inspiration from the traditions of folk, country, and bluegrass, he channels his past experiences into every note, creating a sound that is as reflective as it is timeless.
His music serves as both a bridge to his past and a testament to the quiet beauty of the present—grounded, authentic, and deeply connected to the roots of the land he calls home.
Instagram - Facebook - Apple Music - Spotify
What to know about Jed Willis:
I’m a multi-instrumentalist from Chapel Hill NC and have been living in the Asheville area for 25 years. I enjoy experimenting with sound as much as I do playing in bands and accompanying friends. I was a member of Asheville based Bluegrass/Americana bands Tellico and Town Mountian and I currently play pedal steel in Bask, a heavy and progressive band with some twangy Americana elements, also based in Asheville NC. I also play guitar and pedal steel in an experimental project called Khandroma.
Instagram - Bask Bandcamp - Bask Instagram - Khandroma Instagram
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