Happy New Year and welcome to another great issue of Mandolin Sessions®! In this issue, we introduce several new authors including Wendy Anthony who will be exploring standard mandolin tunes you should know and how to vary them. This is a great addition and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Grammy-nominated guitarist/mandolinist Sergio Lara has joined us with a new column called "Latin Mandolin." The first tune is the beautiful "La Llorona" in the huapango rhythm. Be sure to check out the mp3 from his album.

Multi-stringed wizard Roger Landes (mandolin/bouzouki) is our new columnist on Celtic and World music styles. This time he provides a great tune and unlocks the mysteries of Irish ornamentation for the mandolin.

Our regular columnists have been busy too. Ted Eschliman discusses the role that you (yes, I mean you) have in the evolving future of jazz mandolin. Bobby Clark asks Butch Baldassari, "What's in Your Case?" Bobby tells me that Sam Bush is lined up for a future issue! Steve Kaufman offers his take on "Staten Island Hornpipe," Joe Mendel talks with 20 year old mandolin maker Kyle Alt and Matt Raum continues his series on sequences. Steve Smith rounds things out with an arrangement for mandola.

Hear Joe play at: acousticmusician.com/JoeCarr.html

     -Joe Carr