“West Dakota Rose” finds mandolinist Wyatt Ellis returning to his roots as an instrumentalist, teaming up with his longtime mentor Christopher Henry, founder and instructor at Noya Mountain Music. Written by Henry, the tune has become a modern instrumental standard and a fan favorite in the live sets of contemporary jam bands. Wyatt first learned “West Dakota Rose” directly from Henry at age 10, and it quickly became a cornerstone of his early live shows, pushing his technique, tone, and musical imagination at a young age. The melody carries listeners through the full bluegrass ensemble, beginning with Wyatt’s mandolin before passing seamlessly to the twin fiddles of Noah Goebel and Christian Ward, then to Kyle Tuttle on banjo. It returns to the mandolin before landing on a powerful guitar solo from the tune’s composer, Christopher Henry, and finally brings the full band together for a driving final run. Sarah Griffin’s bass anchors the performance, giving each musician room to soar. The result is a fluid, high-energy reading of “West Dakota Rose,” where each solo grows naturally out of the last rather than standing alone. By the time the band locks in for the closing section, the intensity swells into a powerful finish. At just 16, Wyatt continues to emerge as a formidable young force in bluegrass. Surrounded by some of today’s most respected pickers, including his mentor who first taught him the tune, Wyatt Ellis steps into the circle as both apprentice and master, carrying the tradition forward the way it always has; passed hand to hand, generation to generation.