Jim Carpenter's solo CD Bahia Honda was released on Loco Dare Records. Available from Loco Dare [see info page], Tumbleweeds Music in Niantic, CT., CDbaby, and iTunes. Acoustic, moody and sparse, the record includes tracks: The Bridge, Club Alligator, Refugee, A Simple Strand Of Pearl, The Farmer's Daughter, River, Juntos en el Cielo, The Rose Of His Tattoo, William's Gun, She Cries and Thicker Than Water. Jim enlisted the help of friend/multi-intrumentalist John Mock (Dixie Chicks, Sylvia, Maura O'Connell) on percussion, mandolin, tin whistle and harmonium; Byron House on acoustic bass (Nickel Creek, Emmylou Harris); Andrea Zonn on fiddle and harmony vocals (Vince Gill, James Taylor); Jack Sundrud, harmony vocals (Great Plains, Poco) and Rob Ickes, dobro (Dolly Parton, Blue Highway). Connecticut musicians: Mike Palazzolo (electric bass) and Mike Derry (accordion) also contributed to the project.

"This CD is stinking awesome!" - Rick Koster, author, Lousianna Music

"Carpenter is an accomplished guitarist and his stories weave around familiar territory of lost opportunities on the human highway . . . think Joe Ely and Tom Russell" - Andy Riggs, AmericanaUK

"Met een fluwelen stem en gloedvolle gitaarklanden ceéert hij Mexicaanse, Cubaanse of Latin sferen, kie een vroege Ry Cooder in herinnering brengen toen hij nog optrok met Joseph Spence." - Marcie, Rootstime Radio, Belgium

Jim's eclectic project, The Hoolios www.myspace.com/hoolios , has released two CD's (Rosalie and Silver Triangle). Both were recorded, mixed and produced by Jim at LOCO DARE (additional drum and bass tracks at Eddie Shea's in Mystic, CT), mastered in Nashville by John Mock. The members of the Hoolios are Mike Derry (keyboards, accordion, vocals), Mike Palazzolo (harmony vocals, bass), Ron Lewis (vocals, drums), Billy Light (harmony vocals, slide guitar), Sandy Allen (harmony vocals, mandolin), Jim Carpenter (vocals, guitars). Guests appearances: Wayne Manca - drums, Laura Light - vocals, John Mock - percussion, Byron House - upright bass, Louise Mueller - fiddle, Kelly Jewel - harmony vocals. Tracks: Rosalie, He Gave Her Roses, Dancing With Hay Devils, Maylene, One Night Stan, Going Home, Even Her Eyes, Father & The Jezebel, He Walks In Vain, Silver Triangle, Perfect Girl, She's Outta Line, Fresh Horses, Short On Faith, Don't Call Me Baby, A Reason To Leave, Johnny's Best Girl, Til Death Do Us Part, He Walks In Vain.

"The Hoolios are the best new band in the area, if not the entire region . . ." New London Day, 2007
The Full Dempsey (www.fulldempsey.com ) CD Shame was well received. [Jay Dempsey (vocals, guitar), Mike Derry (vocals, keyboard), Jim Carpenter (vocals, mandolin, guitar, percussion), Bill Light (vocals, guitar), Pat Perry (bass), Ronnie Lewis (vocals)]. The CD was recorded and produced at LOCO DARE In-House, Niantic, CT by Jim; mastered by Jim DeMain @ YesMaster, Nashville, TN; artwork by Jim Carpenter & Celeste Krenz, Nashville, TN. Original contributions include: On Sally's Knee, Broke As The Heart Of Havana, The Other Man, Good Drugs, Franklin City, Louisianna Moon, Sigh In The Night, Shame, and Little Victorys — in addition to compositions by Pat Perry and Mike Derry. Special guests: Wayne "The King" Manca (drums); Dan 'Banjovi" Ravenelle (dobro, banjo).
The Village Jammer's (www.myspace.com/villagejammers ) are at it again. They have begun tracking at LOCO DARE on a new collection of original music to be released in 2009. Their debut CD, Till It Happens To You, has gotten great reviews and is being played regularly on numerous radio stations. The Jammers: Geoff Corkhill (vocals, guitar), Curtiss Thompson (vocals, guitar, mandolin), Dan Ravenelle (guitar, dobro, banjo) and Mike Palazzolo (vocals, bass), have been bluegrass favorites along the Connecticut and Rhode Island shorelines for nearly two decades. Till It Happens To You was tracked at Alchemy Studio in Rhode Island by Bob Cowley; additional tracking, overdubs, and mixing by Jim at LOCO DARE; produced by Jim and The Village Jammers; mastered by John Eberle of Americana Mastering in Nashville. Special guests on the recording included: Tommy "G" Giarratano (classical guitar), Jay Dempsey (harmony vocals), and Jim Carpenter (guitar, mandolin, percussion). Mikey P does a great rendition of Jim's song, Little Victorys. And you'll love the graphic design by Cyndi Stone. Check their website for CD purchase information and schedule.
NOTE OF INTEREST: A collaborative CD entitled Cowboy Dreams, recorded at LOCO DARE by Jim, featuring songs by the Village Jammer's ace songwriter Curtiss Thompson, as well as instrumental contributions by Dan Ravenelle, Tommy Giarratano, Geoff Corkhill and Jim (Tuff It Up and Little Victorys), were used in the soundtrack of David Wittkower's 2002 film Cowboy Up as well as two additional films entitled Turn and Burn and Drive of a Champion.
Singer-songwriter Vince Thompson's Hurricane has been released - available at Tumbleweeds in Niantic, CT, CDbaby, and iTunes. Recorded and produced by Jim at LOCO DARE (drums and bass were recorded at the sadly defunct Sound Station 7 in Providence, Rhode Island) the record is an interesting mix of country. swing, and folk. Vince is a powerful singer whose songs are portraits of loneliness and the grace of hope. Session players include: Jim Gwin (drums), Marshall Wood (upright bass), Mike Palazzolo (electric bass), Curtiss Thompson (lead and harmony vocals, guitar, mandolin), Charlie Paterno (pedal steel), Jim Carpenter (guitars, slide guitar, mandolin, percussion, harmony vocals), Sandy Allen, Cecile Thompson, Laura Light, Debbie Ryder, Jay Dempsey (harmony vocals), Billy Light (slide guitar).

Lee Durant's psychedelic blues project, The Renter, has been mastered by Jim. It is an interesting collage of guitar music, sound effects and recorded images. Jim also designed the cd cover. Lee is currently recording both an acoustic and electric project at Loco Dare.

Other recent, current and future projects at LOCO DARE include: Ginia Sweeney, Cecile Thompson, Ronnie Cruise, Jay Dempsey & Highway Call, Roy MacLean, and Lance Grandahl.

Jim is currently recording demos in Connecticut and Nashville to pitch to Nashville recording artists, as well as compiling tracks for a new acoustic cd and an upcoming alt country project. He has begun hiring out as a percussionist in his spare time, as well as occasional backup support for his son, singer-songwriter Jake Carpenter.