The Salish Sea is the body of water between Vancouver Island and the mainland of Canada, and it is also the title cut of this recording, an original composition by band leader John Reischman. It is part one of a bluegrass concerto John was commissioned to write. I have known John, who is a world class mandolinist, since his time in the San Francisco Bay Area band, the Good Old Persons. He has lived in Vancouver, British Columbia for many years, The Jaybirds, who have been together for 25 years, include Trisha Gagnon on bass and vocals; Trisha also lives in B.C., as does banjo player Nick Hornbuckle. Fiddler Greg Spatz lives in Spokane, Washington, and guitarist and vocalist Patrick Sauber, whom I have known since he was about thirteen, hails from Southern California. Patrick also took the cover photo. This is the first Jaybirds recording on which Patrick has played since he replaced Jim Nunally on guitar.

Other original songs and tunes include “The Crow and Gate,” also by John and named for his favorite pub on Vancouver Island, and “You’re My Honey” and “Walk with Me,” by Trisha. Nick contributes an instrumental entitled “Greenwood Drive,” and Greg composed “The Reunion.”

The CD opens with the traditional, “Banks of Jordan” featuring Patrick on lead and Trisha on harmony. It comes from the Cooke Duet. Next is “You’re My Honey” with Trisha singing lead about her daughter Amanda and John and Patrick on harmony. Nick wrote “Creekwood Drive” for his father, Chuck; it is named after the street where Nick’s parents build their first house. Nick makes good use of the Scruggs tuners on his banjo. “The Old Churchyard” is a traditional British hymn with Trisha singing lead and John and Patrick again on harmony. Patrick sings lead on Mark Graham’s song, “It Looks Like It’s Never Gonna Rain.” Patrick and his dad, Tom, used to play with Mark. In fact, I once emceed a small festival where I got to introduce them. “Train on the Island,” a duet by John and Trisha, is a traditional old-time song. “The Reunion” was named by Greg after getting to see friends and family after pandemic isolation but also after reuniting with an old fiddle he had lent to a friend. “Walk with Me” is about Trisha’s friends of the canine persuasion. “Elkhorn Ridge,” with lead by Patrick, was learned from Oscar Wright. “The Crow and Gate” has a relaxed tempo, and I can imagine John raising a pint in that pub.

The band members are all stellar musicians, and the arrangements allow everyone to shine. I certainly recommend this CD highly, but I also recommend that you go to see this band live when they are playing near you. You can find their performance schedule on their website.

The CD was released on December 4, 2025 and is available on Bandcamp.