Billy Strings’ main mandolin man, Jarrod Walker, takes his chance to be a frontman and make his own music on Nighthawk.

But this is not simply a mandolin album; Walker also plays guitar and mandocello. And despite the straight-up bluesgrass of such numbers as “Libby Phillips Rag” and the title track, Nighthawk is not strictly a bluegrass album, either. 

Outfitted with Spencer Cullum’ pedal steel, Jamie Dick’s drums, plus banjo, fiddle and backgrounds from Strings and Logan Ledger, the 10 originals and cover of Chris Henry’s instrumental “West Dakota Rose,” are more like a hazy mix of country, folk, rock and bluegrass music with a purposeful nod to “Dark Star” in the form of “Leaving Canaan’s Land.” 

Nighthawk is Walker as his own singer, musician and composer and makes clear he has something to fall back on should that become necessary. It also reinforces just how lucky Strings is to have this dude by his side.