Scott Dameron and Jay Ladd V

Scott Dameron and Jay Ladd are named the 2011 Folk Artist of the Year by the Charlotte Music Awards - Charlotte Music Awards

Do you know what I enjoy most about my job here? The fact that I am never short on new music to check out, that’s what. Add to it that I travel a lot for the day job, and you have the perfect solution to road trip boredom. Today’s cure for the road trip blues was Walker 904A by Scott Dameron and Jay Ladd.

Dameron describes their sound as “contemporary folk” or “Americana.” I, however, heard a plethora of styles while listening, ranging from bluegrass to jazz. Dameron and Ladd are friends who have been playing music together off and on for many years out of the Raleigh/Durham area. It is becoming harder these days to find pure talent, as these men have. A lot of today's musicians try to gain popularity by using some sort of gimmick. These men keep it real, as it should be. It is obvious that they thoroughly enjoy creating music together, and in the end, isn’t that what really matters?

The album contains 13 beautiful tracks and provides a good balance of fast paced, upbeat songs, while still featuring ballads that are oozing with emotion. The two men harmonize perfectly with each other, and both have exceptional vocal ability.

Walker 904A commences with a track entitled “Easy To Go.” It is a song about the mutual end to a relationship. On track four, “Singin’ Again,” you can hear the duo’s country roots kick in and it makes you tap your foot to the beat.

Walker 904A was independently released in August 2010 and was recorded and produced by award winning singer-songwriter Chris Rosser at Hollow Reed Arts studio in Asheville, NC.

This album is very enjoyable to listen to, no matter what genre you generally prefer. I hope to hear more from these two in the near future. - Raleighmusic.com

While the album title 'Walker 904A' might seem somewhat strange, the material and talent of these singer-songwriters (Scott Dameron and Jay Ladd V) is anything but that. Instrumentation is well-done and vocals provide a James Taylor-meets-Dave Wilcox kind of experience.

The mix of the six tunes under review here goes from the melancholy and introspective guitar and violin-anchored "New Year's Day" to the toe-tapping triumph of "Singin' Again," which features a well-played dobro and sweet backup vocals from Beth Wood.

Still, the general mood runs toward the somber, or at least less-than-back-slapping happiness. Aside from the slightly up-tempo "Was that Me", the remaining tunes more closely resemble the opener.

Overall, this is a very good effort from the duo. They should make names for themselves (if not already) among singer-songwriters.

Les Reynolds - Indie-music.net

Scott Dameron and Jay Ladd are the Winners of the 2011 North Carolina Songwriters Co-op Contest - North Carolina Songwriters Co-op

We are one of 10 finalists scheduled to perform in the Wildflower Performing Songwriter Contest. - 2011 Wildflower Arts and Music Festival

Scott Dameron and Jay Ladd's "Walker 904A" is mentioned as "some great music we received this month". - Minor 7th

Named one of the eight finalists in the 2010 North Carolina Songwriter's Co-op. The finals will be held at the Carrboro NC ArtsCenter, on Saturday 10/23. - North Carolina Songwriter's Co-op

If you are in the mood for some good folk songs with touching lyrics I have the right medicine for you, Scott Dameron & Jay Ladd V. The duo came together by a stroke of fate as roommates in college and they ended up writing songs together and remained friends and here we are today with a superb thirteen tracks titled Walker 904A.

I am going to guess the title is the address they lived at during college but I may be off base with that.

If you have a penchant for melodic tunes filled with acoustic guitars, sweet harmonies and keyboards put in all the right places, you will love this album.

Think Kenny Loggins, James Taylor and the like and you have a modern day singer/songwriter combination that is hard to beat. There are more contributors than just the two men of course. Dameron plays the guitar and provides background vocals and Ladd is the lead vocalist while playing the piano and keyboards. That is the core sound however there is bass (Cameron Dye), Wurlizter organ (Chris Rosser), dobro (Billy Cardine), harmony vocals (Beth Wood), cello (Franklin Keel), electric slide guitar (Mars Ferris), violin (Joe Ebel), banjo (Marc Miller) and percussion (River Guerguerian). All of these instruments play a role in making the entire sound a distinct Folk and Americana album.

Every track is a joy to listen to. I did not hear a flop on the entire album and the production values are exceptional as well. Don’t think for a minute that these two dudes are a couple of lightweights; just listen to the words and nasty slide guitar in “Listen Now”. Now there is a track that makes a statement musically and lyrically. They go from light airy pleasantness to in your face no nonsense music like CSN&Y delivered years ago. Then to give you a taste of some traditional Appalachian Mountain fresh air bluegrass…”“Grass Won’t Grow” will send you to the nearest barn for a hoedown and a roll in the hay. There is plenty of variety to sink you folk teeth into on this recording no doubt.

Chris Rosser also served as their producer so kudos for his all around hard work, in fact hats off to everyone involved on this project. I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated this music. It isn’t get-up-and-dance music; it’s the warmth and fuzziness that gently prompts a reflective trip that will keep you coming back for a second helping. For the most part I was reminded of the immortal James Taylor because of Ladd’s vocal style, although he is smoother around the edges than Taylor to be honest. I cannot offer anymore compliments than that except every track is an original, which makes it all that much more of an amazing effort by two very talented men.

5/5 Stars
Key Tracks: New Year’s Day, Listen Now, Grass Won’t Grow

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck—MuzikReviews.com Founder
- Muzikreviews.com

Scott Dameron and Jay Ladd V named 2010 Regional Finalist in the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest for their song, "Can't Tell You Goodbye". - Mountain Stage NewSong Contest