Last year if you heard the words "trail mix," you might have thought about dried fruit and nuts in the produce department. But these days, those two words are fast becoming synonymous with bluegrass music. The five-member band Trail Mix has continued to refine its sound and increase its repertoire over the fall and winter months, playing small gigs and venues in the Triad and Triangle areas.
    "We’re big on arrangements and dynamics," said Rafe Martin, the group’s mandolin player, adding "our influences vary greatly." A look at the groups’ set list would verify Rafe’s statement. Songs from the likes of the late Grand Ole Opry star George Morgan ("Candy Kisses"), Ralph Stanley ("Clinch Mountain Backstep"), The Who ("Let My Love Open the Door") and Stan Getz ("The Girl From Impanema") all add to the mix of musical styles the group draws from. Add in numerous tunes by bluegrass, jazz and country stalwarts Bill Monroe, Béla Fleck and Alison Krauss and the groups’ song library increases dramatically.
    "Caitlin (Bingham, lead vocalist) has a powerful voice," Rafe said. "Our song selection is picked to accommodate her voice." While Caitlin handles the majority of the vocal responsibilities, Phillip Clapp and Courtney Andrews trade licks on the guitar and banjo respectively. Richard Greene (on bass) and Rafe both hail from Burlington, and in fact live only a few streets apart.
    The group, minus Caitlin, first got together when a friend of Rafe’s called and needed a band for an event one weekend. He quickly put together a quartet and without any rehearsal, performed a 45-minute set then immediately went out into the parking lot and jammed.
    "We just clicked," Rafe says. "Then we added Caitlin on vocals and Trail Mix was born."
    If you’re wondering what this "jazz grass" band sounds like, you’ll have a chance to catch them live at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the gazebo at Willowbrook Park (between South Church Street and Edgewood Avenue). The concert is part of the Sunset Rhythms Concert Series. And if you can’t wait until then, check out its Web site at trailmix bluegrass.com for a few samples.

By: Charlton Wiggins