Carolina Banjo is what happens when 2-time Florida & North Carolina banjo champion, Mary Z Cox & Champion North Carolina fiddler, Tim Gardner, get together in October in the Carolina Mountains and record. Banjo, bluegrass, blues & beyond !

Carolina Banjo is what happens when 2-time Florida & North Carolina banjo champion, Mary Z

Carolina Banjo is what happens when 2-time Florida & North Carolina banjo champion, Mary Z Cox & Champion North Carolina fiddler, Tim Gardner, get together in October in the Carolina Mountains and record. Banjo, bluegrass, blues & beyond !

Carolina Banjo is what happens when 2-time Florida & North Carolina banjo champion, Mary Z Cox & Champion North Carolina fiddler, Tim Gardner, get together in October in the Carolina Mountains and record. And this time, Darren Nicholson dropped by the studio—adding that high lonesome bluegrass patina on mandolin & guitar. If that weren’t enough—MaryZ’s new Goldtone baritone banjo debuts with deep slinky tones, and Cindy Carpenter adds her just right vocal harmony to the mix. And this is about as old school bluegrass as it gets in a modern studio—heartbeat instead of click track—tapped feet—eye signals—laughing & singing & hey let’s try this!

Mary Z. Cox has played banjo since she was 12 and has been a recording artist since 1999. She’s recorded 11 CDs, plays concerts & festivals, gives workshops, and authors banjo books. Her music’s been played on National Public Radio’s, “Thistle & Shamrock”, “All Songs Considered,” Pandora World Music Genome, & the BBC. She’s taught claw hammer banjo for over a decade at the John C. Campbell Folk School as well as camps & festivals nationwide, including the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby, NC, Cal Tech, & the Florida Folk Festival.

She’s video interviewed in Smithsonian Folkways’ “Conversations With Old Time Performers”/ volume II, featured in Banjo Babes 2016 & 2017 Calendar/ CD compilation, she brought North American claw hammer banjo to the Osaka, Shanghai ferry, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Mongolian Dining Car on the Tran Siberian Railway, Vancouver BC, Unalaska, Abby Road in London, in the harbor with the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Whiteside Mountain & beyond !

"Tim Gardner is an award-winning fiddler, multi-instrumentalist, banjo builder, and recording artist/engineer from the mountains of NC. He grew up in a musical family and is well versed in a variety of styles including old-time, bluegrass, Celtic, and swing music. Tim is currently fiddling with the bluegrass band Unspoken Tradition and has performed extensively throughout the Southeast at venues such as MerleFest, IBMA Bluegrass Ramble, Suwannee Springfest & Magnoliafest, and many others. His music and craft has been featured on UNC TV, Sirius XM's Bluegrass Junction, WDVX Blue Plate Special, and several other documentaries and radio shows. Tim can be seen performing around western North Carolina with a variety of musical acts."

Blues, Bluegrass & Blue Sky Banjo

GOOD MORNING BANJO/MARY Z COX

This is what happens when 2 time Florida & North Carolina banjo champion, Mary Z Cox & Champion North Carolina fiddler, Tim Gardner, get together in October in the Carolina Mountains and record.

"Tim Gardner is an award-winning fiddler, multi-instrumentalist, banjo

Blues, Bluegrass & Blue Sky Banjo

GOOD MORNING BANJO/MARY Z COX

This is what happens when 2 time Florida & North Carolina banjo champion, Mary Z Cox & Champion North Carolina fiddler, Tim Gardner, get together in October in the Carolina Mountains and record.

"Tim Gardner is an award-winning fiddler, multi-instrumentalist, banjo builder, and recording artist/engineer from the mountains of NC. He grew up in a musical family and is well versed in a variety of styles including old-time, bluegrass, Celtic, and swing music. Tim is currently fiddling with the bluegrass band Unspoken Tradition and has performed extensively throughout the Southeast at venues such as MerleFest, IBMA Bluegrass Ramble, Suwannee Springfest & Magnoliafest, and many others. His music and craft has been featured on UNC TV, Sirius XM's Bluegrass Junction, WDVX Blue Plate Special, and several other documentaries and radio shows. Tim can be seen performing around western North Carolina with a variety of musical acts."

Mary Z. Cox has played banjo since she was 12 and has been a recording artist since 1999. She’s recorded 10 CDs, plays concerts & festivals, gives workshops, and authors banjo books. Her music’s been played on National Public Radio’s, “Thistle & Shamrock”, “All Songs Considered,” Pandora World Music Genome, & the BBC. She’s taught claw hammer banjo for over a decade at the John C. Campbell Folk School as well as camps & festivals nationwide, including the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby, NC, Cal Tech, & the Florida Folk Festival.

Mary Z is a third generation Floridian originally from Brevard County where her paternal grandparents were early settlers of the Indian River Colony. Her maternal granddad, also a professional banjoist, inspired her early interest in the banjo.

She’s video interviewed in Smithsonian Folkways’ “Conversations With Old Time Performers”/ volume II, featured in Banjo Babes 2016 & 2017 Calendar/ CD compilation, she brought North American claw hammer banjo to the Osaka ferry terminal, Shanghai ferry, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Mongolian Dining Car on the Tran Siberian Railway, Vancouver, BC, Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, Abby Road in London & on deck on the Queen Mary II in the harbor with the Statue of Liberty.

Good Morning Banjo is Mary Z’s 10th CD recorded in Tim’s Coyote Ridge studio in Mills River NC and its full of claw hammer banjo & fiddle & much more.

The best of Banjo, Blues, Bluegrass, Love & Heartbreak from old time banjo champion & recording artist, Mary Z Cox. Vocals & banjo with fiddle, guitar,mandolin & bass -- lots of singing songs, including "Dream, Dream" :)

Its here--Blue Sky Banjo--my first ever vocal cd & lots of banjo too ! Only recorded my favorite songs &

The best of Banjo, Blues, Bluegrass, Love & Heartbreak from old time banjo champion & recording artist, Mary Z Cox. Vocals & banjo with fiddle, guitar,mandolin & bass -- lots of singing songs, including "Dream, Dream" :)

Its here--Blue Sky Banjo--my first ever vocal cd & lots of banjo too ! Only recorded my favorite songs & tunes and hope you will love them too. :)

Musicians Mary Z Cox, Vocals, banjos, ukulele, claw hammer guitar Lis Williamson, Vocal harmony, rhythm guitar,, Lon Williamson, Bass, lead guitar, snaps Tim Gardner, Fiddle Ellen Sheppard, Mandolin, rhythm guitar

Sally Ann & Fishers Hornpipe/Chinkapin Hunting recorded by Tim Gardner at Coyote Ridge Audio Cold Frosty Morning recorded by Gordon Cox All other tracks recorded by Lon Williamson at Gatorbone Studios All tracks mixed by Lon Williamson at Gatorbone Studios & mastered by Pete Winter/Winterstone Productions.

Banjos on recording: Deering GDL mermaid, Deering 22 fret John Hartford, Gold Tone Elite Classic, Lame Horse open back .

Special Thanks to everyone who helped me record this first vocal cd. Lisa Rhoades Lorenzo for vocal lessons that allowed me to have a voice of my own, Bob Cox for his encouragement to develop a solo show & generous financial support. Lis & Lon Williamson for sharing my vision of Blue Sky Banjo & giving their best for this project. Thanks to Bob Cox, Ellen Sheppard & Jim Crozier, who have played these songs with me in public and inspired me to record them. Thanks to all the folks who have listened to and bought my banjo CDs & books these last 15 years. You keep me grateful & inspired.