Where We Go
Released February 20, 2026
Produced by John Mailander
“The musicality here is top notch… the record begs you to sit down, turn the lights down low and play the whole thing through.” —Red Line Roots
“A master of the mandolin… with the power to carry you away in a swoon.”
—Rambles.net
“There’s joy in these grooves if you choose to take it.” —Rambles.net
“A brilliant album!” —Mandolin Cafe
About the album
Where We Go is a flowing and confident collection of original tunes and thoughtfully chosen cover songs built around listening, space, interaction, texture, and tone. Produced by John Mailander and recorded at the Tractor Shed in Nashville with a core ensemble of Jesse Appelman (mandolin and vocals), Sami Braman (fiddle), Emily Mann (bass and vocals), and Eli West (guitar, octave mandolin, and vocals), the music is rooted in the in-between of bluegrass, old-time, and new acoustic, but ultimately unconcerned with genre lines. The album's title is both a question and a statement of intent, offering an example of what can happen when a group of musicians prioritizes honesty, deep listening, and trust.
Personnel and credits
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Jesse Appelman - mandolin, vocals
Sami Braman - fiddle
Emily Mann - bass, harmony vocals on “Glacier Song”
Eli West - guitar, octave mandolin, harmony vocals on “Glacier Song”
With (in order of appearance):
Allison de Groot - clawhammer banjo on “Valley Springs,” “Glacier Song,” “Lyell Fork,” and “Out in the Valley”
Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms - harmony vocals on “The Hills of Isle au Haut”
Mark Raudabaugh - drums on “The Hills of Isle au Haut” and “First Notes”
John Mailander - harmony fiddles on “Liminal Criminal” and “First Notes,” shruti box on “Anna Lee,” additional mandolin on “So Close”
Jeff Taylor -accordion on “Anna Lee”
AJ Lee - harmony vocals on “Anna Lee”
Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick - harmony vocals on “Out in the Valley”
Mike Witcher - Weissenborn slide guitar on “Montara”
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All tunes written by Jesse Appelman except where noted.
Valley Springs
The Hills of Isle au Haut (Gordon Bok)
Liminal Criminal
Glacier Song (Will Fourt)
Lyell Fork
Freight Train (Elizabeth Cotten)
Anna Lee (Laurelyn Dossett)
So Close
Out in the Valley (Yoseff Tucker)
Montara
First Notes
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Produced by John Mailander
Additional vocal production by Kathy Kallick
Recorded March 7-10, 2025. Engineered and mixed by Sean Sullivan at the Tractor Shed in Goodlettsville, TN
Additional recording by:
Jay Pellicci at Brothers (Chinese) Recording, Oakland, CA (Jesse’s vocals)
Laurie Lewis at LewieToons, Berkeley, CA (Laurie Lewis/Kathy Kallick vocals)
Michael Connolly at Empty Sea Studios, Ferndale, WA (AJ Lee vocals)
Kevin Colomby, Orcas Island, WA (Caleb Klauder/Reeb Willms vocals)
Mike Witcher, TwinBoy Studios
Mastered by Mike Monseur at Axis Audio, Nashville, TN
Artwork, cover photo, and design by Louise Bichan
Photography – Emma McCoury (studio session photos), Giant Eye Photography
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Jesse played a 2007 Nugget A5 mandolin
Sami played a 1926 violin made by Gustav August Ficker
Emily played a bass of unknown provenance
Eli played a 2016 Pre-War Herringbone guitar and a 2017 Cedar Mountain octave mandolin
John played a 2005 Jonathan Cooper violin and a Northfield Big Mon mandolin
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Beth and Arlo. Mom, Dad, Zach, and Barbara. John Fuller for getting it started and steering me and countless other kids towards the good stuff. Sami, Emily, Eli, and Allison for sounds, ears, and intent. John for leading the way with gentle brilliance. Sean. Kathy Kallick and Morgan Balfour. Jeff Taylor & Mark Raudabaugh. Paul Kowert. Jacob Groopman, Yoseff Tucker, Christine Wilhoyte, Jordan Klein, Catherine & Chad Manning, Sharon Gilchrist, Scott Nygaard & Alisa Rose, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Caleb & Reeb, Brandon Godman, Leah Wollenberg, Mark Schatz, Mike Witcher, Joe K. Walsh, Sam Grisman, Mike Marshall, Adam Roszkiewicz, Kimber Ludiker, Peter Thompson, Justin Hiltner, the California Bluegrass Association, and CKYPO.
PRESS IMAGES
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