World renowned mandolin master John Reischman will perform at The Lopez Community Center, Friday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m., with a special release show of his new CD, “Walk Along John.” The release features original and traditional instrumentals performed by John and guests including Chris Thile, Bruce Molsky, Tony Trischka, Eli West, Trent Freeman, Patrick Metzger and Kenny Smith.

Reischman is among the most prolific composers of original mandolin instrumentals.  A former member of the acclaimed Good Ol’ Persons, an original member of the legendary Tony Rice Unit, and band leader of the West Coast’s Juno nominated John Reischman and the Jaybirds.

Reischman will be performing with a new group for this upcoming show. The group includes Eli West on guitar, Trent Freeman on fiddle and Patrick Metzger on bass, all of whom perform on “Walk Along John.”

Trent Freeman brings innovative and inspired groove, harmony and captivating melodies along in his arsenal of fiddle magic. The recipient of numerous awards he has a broad range of experience and is a well respected and sought after session musician. His “Rock Paper Scissor”s album, an all original endeavor, won him the 2012 Canadian Folk Music award. During his time at Berklee College of Music, he toured with the Berklee World Strings, the Berklee Bluegrass All-Stars and with Berklee’s Transatlantic Collaboration.

A fixture of the Vancouver roots music scene, Bassist Patrick Metzger took an interest in music at the age of twelve when he started playing rock and roll and blues with his friends in Nelson, B.C. He studied formally with Ron Mulvey, through the Royal Conservatory of Music.

He performs regularly with a wide range of artists from the Western Swing of Petunia and the Vipers and jazz pianist Bruno Hubert to the haunting folk-noir group The Abramson Singers.

Eli West is one half of the Northwest duo Cahalen Morrison and Eli West. Based loosely out of Seattle, West is an unconventional acoustic musician, pursuing an angular and syncopated pattern language on guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, and clawhammer banjo.

Tickets in advance are adult for $15 and youth for $10. Tickets are available from the Community Center office, and online at www.lopezcenter.org and at Paper Scissors on the Rock, Blossoms Organic Grocery, Lopez Bookshop

Tickets at door are adult for $15 and youth for $10.