Led by Clay Hess, the former lead guitarist for Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, the Clay Hess Band transforms traditional bluegrass and blues into fun jam session pickings on their new album, Just Another Story, available now.

Album highlights include an upbeat bluegrass take on the great 1965 Waylon Jennings tune “Anita, You’re Dreaming” and a rendition of country blues great Jimmie Rodgers’ “Blue Yodel #2.”

“’Blue Yodel #2’ is one of my favorite Jimmie Rodgers songs,” says Hess. “It rounds out what we think is a great variety of songs we have for this project.”

With fleet-fingered mandolin, mellow bass, and Hess’ nimble guitar work and melodic yodel, the tune gets a nice new but still traditional twist in the band’s finely coordinated hands.

Hess, who originally hails from Athens, Ohio, and the band drove to North Carolina to film a live performance of the track at the historic Polk County Ag Center.

Check out their lively performance, below.

For more information on the Clay Hess Band, visit their website. Photography: Courtesy Roar Publicity.