NEW ALBUM: Taking It to the Mountain

One of Music Maker’s newest Next Generation artists, Trenton Ayers hails from Holy Springs, MS, where he grew up immersed in Mississippi’s blues community. The son of Junior Kimbrough’s bassist Earl “Little Joe” Ayers, he grew up rubbing elbows with Hill Country blues icons like Jessie May Hemphill and played his first gig at just six years old. By the time he was twelve, he’d joined his first band, The Burnside Exploration, and embarked on a lifelong touring career soon after.

Trenton has spent four decades honing his musical prowess on a wide range of influences, from the Hill Country blues of his upbringing to Sly and the Family Stone. But until recently, he’s worked primarily as a sideman. Now, at the urging of roots legend and producer Jimbo Mathus , he has taken center stage to create this extremely creative solo record, defined by his breathtaking guitar playing.

Taking It to the Mountain was recorded at Music Maker Studios in Fountain, NC in May 2025. It is one of the first albums to take full advantage of Music Maker’s “Freeverb” chamber, a reverb chamber situated in what used to be the workshop of late artist, luthier, and philosopher Freeman Vines.

Freeman’s guitars are also heavily featured on the album, and three of his relatives (local singers Anthony “Amp” Daniels, Christy Moody, KeAmber Daniels) provided backup vocals as The Crimestoppers. Jimbo produced and provided additional drums, guitar, keys, and vocals with his band Creatures of the Southern Wild (Kirk Russell, John Kveen, Scott “Paco” Goolsby).

Taking It to the Mountain can be purchased from Music Maker Foundation or streamed on all major streaming platforms.