Jim Carpenter's solo CD Bahia Honda has been released. Available from LOCO DARE [see info page], Tumbleweeds Music in Niantic, CT., CDbaby, iTunes. Acoustic, moody and sparse, the record includes tracks: The Bridge, Club Alligator, Refugee, A Simple Strand Of Pearl, The Farmer's Daughter, River, Juntos en el Cielo, The Rose Of His Tattoo, William's Gun, She Cries and Thicker Than Water. Jim enlisted the help of friend/multi-intrumentalist John Mock (Dixie Chicks, Sylvia, Maura O'Connell) on percussion, mandolin, tin whistle and harmonium; Byron House on acoustic bass (Nickel Creek, Emmylou Harris); Andrea Zonn on fiddle and harmony vocals (Vince Gill, James Taylor); Jack Sundrud, harmony vocals (Great Plains, Poco) and Rob Ickes, dobro (Dolly Parton, Blue Highway). Connecticut musicians: Mike Palazzolo (electric bass) and Mike Derry (accordion) also contributed to the project.

"This CD is stinking awesome!" - Rick Koster, author, Lousianna Music

Jim's eclectic project The Hoolios www.myspace.com/hoolios released two cds: Rosalie and Silver Triangle in January of 2009. Both cds were recorded and mixed at LOCO DARE, additional drum and bass tracks at Eddie Shea's in Mystic, CT. The members of the Hoolios are Mike Derry (keyboards, accordion, vocals), Mike Palazzolo (harmony vocals, bass), Ron Lewis (vocals, drums), Billy Light (harmony vocals, slide guitar), Sandy Allen (harmony vocals, mandolin), Jim Carpenter (vocals, guitars, mandolin, banjo, percussion). Guests include: Wayne Manca - drums, Laura Light - vocals. Tracks: Rosalie, He Gave Her Roses, Dancing With Hay Devils, Maylene, One Night Stan, Going Home, Even Her Eyes, Father & The Jezebel, He Walks In Vain, When The Day Is Done. The cds have recieved airplay throughout the country, as well as in Europe.
The Full Dempsey (www.fulldempsey.com ) CD Shame was well received. [Jay Dempsey (vocals, guitar), Mike Derry (vocals, keyboard), Jim Carpenter (vocals, mandolin, guitar, percussion), Bill Light (vocals, guitar), Pat Perry (bass), Ronnie Lewis (vocals)]. The CD was recorded and produced at LOCO DARE In-House, Niantic, CT by Jim; mastered by Jim DeMain @ YesMaster, Nashville, TN; artwork by Jim Carpenter & Celeste Krenz, Nashville, TN. Jim's original contributions include: On Sally's Knee, Broke As The Heart Of Havana, The Other Man, Good Drugs, Franklin City, Louisianna Moon, Sigh In The Night, Shame, and Little Victorys — in addition to compositions by Pat Perry and Mike Derry. Special guests: Wayne "The King" Manca (drums); Dan 'Banjovi" Ravenelle (dobro, banjo).

The Rivergods (www.therivergods.com ) Time Has Come was recorded at Alchemy Studio in Westerly, RI and LOCO DARE In-House, Niantic, CT. The cd was co-produced by songwriter Ben Parent and Jim Carpenter. Jim contributed guitar, mandolin and percussion tracks.

The Village Jammer's (www.villagejammers.com ) CD entitled Till It Happens To You has gotten great reviews and is being played regularly on numerous radio stations. The Jammers: Geoff Corkhill (vocals, guitar), Curtiss Thompson (vocals, guitar, mandolin), Dan Ravenelle (guitar, dobro, banjo) & Mike Palazzolo (vocals, bass), have been bluegrass favorites along the Connecticut and Rhode Island shorelines for nearly two decades. The CD was tracked at Alchemy Studio in Rhode Island by Bob Cowley; additional tracking, overdubs, and mixing by Jim at LOCO DARE; produced by Jim and The Village Jammers; mastered by John Eberle of Americana Mastering in Nashville. Special guests on the recording include: Tommy "G" Giarratano (classical guitar), Jay Dempsey (harmony vocals), and Jim Carpenter (guitar, mandolin, percussion). Mikey P does a great rendition of Jim's song, Little Victorys. And you'll love the graphic design by Cyndi Stone. Check their website for CD purchase information and schedule.
NOTE OF INTEREST: A collaborative CD entitled Cowboy Dreams, recorded at LOCO DARE by Jim, featuring songs by the Village Jammer's ace songwriter Curtiss Thompson, as well as instrumental contributions by Dan Ravenelle, Tommy Giarratano, Geoff Corkhill and Jim (Tuff It Up and Little Victorys), were used in the soundtrack of David Wittkower's 2002 film Cowboy Up as well as two additional films entitled Turn and Burn and Drive of a Champion.
Singer-songwriter Vince Thompson's Hurricane has been released - available at Tumbleweeds in Niantic, CT, CDbaby, and iTunes. Recorded and produced by Jim at LOCO DARE (drums and bass were recorded at the sadly defunct Sound Station 7 in Providence, Rhode Island) the record is an interesting mix of country. swing, and folk. Vince is a powerful singer whose songs are portraits of loneliness and the grace of hope. Session players include: Jim Gwin (drums), Marshall Wood (upright bass), Mike Palazzolo (electric bass), Curtiss Thompson (lead and harmony vocals, guitar, mandolin), Charlie Paterno (pedal steel), Jim Carpenter (guitars, slide guitar, mandolin, percussion, harmony vocals), Sandy Allen, Cecile Thompson, Laura Light, Debbie Ryder, Jay Dempsey (harmony vocals), Billy Light (slide guitar).

Jim is currently recording and producing projects by Lee Durant, The Village Jammers, John Fries, Wayne Manca, Celticity, Anne Castellano and Roy Dunn. In addition, he is recording three diverse solo cds and actively demoing and pitching songs through Chris Keaton Publishing in Nasvhille.