This new western trio is just barely stretchin' their coltish legs on the western music scene. The group, New West, is made up of Michael Fleming (acoustic rhythm guitar),Raul Reynoso (acoustic guitar and mandolin) and David Jackson (bass, piano and accordion).
Fleming was raised at the foot of the Colorado Rockies. There he developed a profound love for the West and its people. This has compelled him to create music and poetry celebrating its culture. He has been described by reviewers as "a creative and perceptive songwriter" whose work is "among the most innovative in Western music." Mike is an avid horseman and can shape a cowboy hat with the best of them. (Lookout Hat Man Jack!) Most of the material for New West is written by Fleming and he has won the Academy of Western Artists 1997 Will Rogers Award/Best Western Swing Song for his composition of "Sometimes This Old Cowboy Gets The Blues."
Another member of the group, Raul Reynoso, has incredible instrumental and vocal talent and this has made him one of California's most sought after musicians and performers. Raul has played at the Grand Old Opry and has recorded with Larry McNeely. He is a two time Western Regional flatpicking champion who has been nominated for best instrumentalist by the Western Music Association. Before becoming a part of New West, he was lead member of the "Thunder Mountain Boys" and The Rhythm Brothers" at Disneyland for ten years. He is most noted for his expertise on acoustic guitar and mandolin with a mastery of styles ranging from bluegrass and western swing to 30's jazz in the tradition of the legendary Django Reinhardt.
The third member of New West is a bass player extrodinaire. That makes David Jackson in much demand as a studio musician and voice-over artist. He is known for his infectious enthusiasm and humor and has wowed audiences across the country with his prowess and versatility on bass, piano and accordion. In 1996 Dave was honored by the California Country Music Association as Best Instrumentalist. He has played and sung with such music stars as Kenny Rogers, Hoyt Axton, Cher, Jackson Browne and Dwight Yoakum, just to name a few. His true love is music and poetry about the West and he bring abundant experience and heart to this sweet singin' trio.
If your taste is western music, you won't want to miss New West for their music is ... big as the Western Sky!
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