Bowling Green, KY's Jesse Brock is a master of the traditional bluegrass mandolin, with pure and upbeat picking on both sparkling originals and familiar covers.

Brock, born July 18, 1972 in Decatur, IL, has been involved with bluegrass for nearly his entire life. At age seven, Brock took the stage with his family's band, the Brock Family Band, harmonizing with his sisters. By age nine, Brock took on mandolin duties in the band and he developed a style inspired by Bill Monroe, Jimmy Gaudreau, Jesse McReynolds, David McLaughlin, and especially Nate Bray.

When the Brock Family Band disbanded in 1988, Jesse Brock went on to play with Stonewall Bluegrass, Lynn Morris, and Chris Jones the Night Drivers. After being forced by his boss to decide between his day job and his bluegrass career, Brock began work on his debut solo album. Kickin' Grass, released by Pinecastle Records in June of 2002, features some of bluegrass' best pickers -- guitarist Ron Stewart, banjo player Tom Adams, Marshall Wilborn, and Jason Carter, to name a few -- playing originals, traditionals, and covers of the greats, with Jesse Brock's delicate, Nate Bray-styled mandolin as the centerpiece. ~ Charles Spano, Rovi