Tim Hensley – “Long Monday” (Rural Rhythm / Blue Chair Records)

Nashville Tenn., — His kind of country may be revved up and full-tilt, but that doesn’t mean Kenny Chesney doesn’t know and love his bluegrass. Taking time out from his own high energy brand of music, the man who has played to over 7 million people in the past 6 years immersed himself in acoustic and bluegrass to help produce band mate Tim Hensley’s first ever recording Long Monday.

Something obviously clicked. With its mélange of classic songs (“Working on a Building.” “Two Coats”), modern bluegrass (“Five Generations,” “Lonesome Dove”), an original (“What A Sight To Behold”) and great singer/songwriters (Rodney Crowell’s :Riding Out The Storm,” the John Prine penned title track), the long time Ricky Skaggs and Patty Loveless band alum turned in a record that gives people a sense of the best of organic music.

“It’s a little bit of everything we do,” says Hensley, known for leading bluegrass and acoustic jams so everyone can wind down after Chesney’s turbo-shows. “It’s got something that shows every kind of bluegrass ‘cause they’re all good.”

With special guests including Patty Loveless, Vince Gill and Sonya Isaacs, Long Monday is a quiet jewel of a record that’s already attracted the attention of Bluegrass Unlimited, The Nashville Scene and USA Today. It’s garnering airplay across the nation – and continues picking up spins and stations every week.

“When people see Tim onstage with me they don’t get the best of what he does. He’s a great tenor singer and rhythm guitarist, but when he gets back to his roots, it’s a whole other thing… And I think my fans, especially, who’ve been seeing him for so many years, are gonna love everything about what he does.” After all, anyone who’s ever been backstage at one of our shows after the concert, they know the real show is the bluegrass jamming in the parking lot. That’s Tim; that’s where he really, truly shines. To be able to help get that on a CD was a true honor… and to hear it debut at #9, well, that’s awesome.”Kenny Chesney

Hensley will, as he does each summer, hit the road with Chesney’s Poets & Pirates 2008 Tour. Though light years from Long Monday, one never knows when or how he may get to flex his bluegrass muscle out there; but for fans of the high lonesome harmonies that’ve set Chesney’s records apart on the radio, Long Monday is where all of that begins.

“There is so much about all of this that’s hard to believe. Whether it’s playing in a football stadium for all those people… or doing the Midnite Jamboree for my own record… it’s hard to believe all this is happening. I’ve always wanted to play, to be a picker – and Kenny’s let me do that in a whole lot of different ways. The idea that Long Monday is #9 on the bluegrass chart is crazy.” Tim Hensley