COLORADO'S 'FINEST QUALITY' LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
P.O. BOX 830; NEDERLAND, COLORADO 80466
mike@michiganmike.com
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COLORADO'S 'FINEST QUALITY' LIVE ENTERTAINMENT P.O. BOX 830; NEDERLAND, COLORADO 80466 mike@michiganmike.com
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 MUSIC SCHEDULE & ARTIST DESCRIPTIONS: Schedule subject to change. Click For "Printer-Friendly" Version of Schedule. FRIDAY 8/25/06 2:00 PM - Box Office & Festival Gates Open 3:00 PM to 4:15 PM - POLYTOXIC provides the perfect springboard for improvised performances leading into a dance frenzy by incorporating soulful vocals, powerful drum lines, and floating keys into their original material. With the combination of Tori Pater's raspy, rugged rock and roll voice, CR Gruver's ability to make his keyboard sound like the lead instrument, and Chad "Chadzilla" Johnson's enthralling drumming, Polytoxic demonstrates its versatility and ability to appeal to a wide variety of listeners. After over 3,000 gigs and thousands of miles, keyboardist and bassist CR Gruver and guitarist Tori Pater met and played together in the Denver sextet, Two Ton Moxie; a group comprised of members of two of Denver's well-known bands, the Henry Parsons Project and the Crispy Critters. A year later, local Denver drummer Chadzilla Johnson joined the band after years of playing with every musician in Colorado and giving lessons to every aspiring drummer in town. In July 2005, Polytoxic received the Westword Music Showcase award for Best Jam/Improv band in Denver, and have shared the stage with people like Bernie Worrell, Eric McFadden, Jayme Mclean, Pnut Daniels, Leo Nocentelli, and Col. Bruce. Polytoxic also received a Westword "Best Of Denver" award for a local concert of 2005 for their sizzling reenactment of The Band's "The Last Waltz" at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom to a capacity crowd. This fine presentation was preceded by riveting performances of other albums by such artists as the Police, Guns and Roses, James Brown, Led Zeppelin, U2, the Neville Brothers and Phish. On April Fools, 2006 they performed "(this is not) Spinal Tap" at the Gothic Theater. This is also the same night that they formed their now legendary relationship with the sweet ladies of Headbanger Salon! In a short time Polytoxic has established themselves as a driving force in the Denver music community. After years of kicking, clawing, and scratching their ways through the trenches of the always tumultuous music industry, Gruver, Pater, and Johnson find their musical identity in Polytoxic, where improvisation and unpredictability keeps them going. Since improvisation is what keeps these three interested in playing together, the same song is never played twice and every show is guaranteed to be different. This is a band that has no rules, no boundaries, and no doubts that their music can get the audience moving. This Band's MySpace w/ Audio 4:20 PM - ‘Tweener Set: JUBAL has been writing and performing his own music for the last seventeen years. Jubal is a multi-instrumentalist with his forte being the guitar, although he began his music career playing percussion when he was fourteen. By the time he was fifteen, he had discovered his connection with the guitar and exhibited a life long passion for creating his music. He played through out high school, playing with various bands and for many school functions. After high school, Jubal attended the University of Arizona and while still playing with several bands, graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a Music Theory and Composition minor. Jubal has played his unique style of music all over the country*, including both coasts and in between. Jubal is masterful with acoustic and electric guitars. He is a solid rhythm, and burning lead player. Jubal is able to add to the music a color not often seen in a guitar player. As if that were not enough, Jubal is an adept bass player. He has occasionally been known to collaborate with other bands as a percussionist. Jubal sings powerful melody and precise harmony vocals of his own composed lyrics as well as cover songs and improvisation. Depending upon the venue, Jubal can be seen playing instrumental jazz, solo acoustic shows, full band shows, or his awe inspiring Keller Williams-esque performances in which he utilizes a Boomerang Digital Sampler to play bass, percussion, rhythm, and lead guitar, as well as sing lead and harmony. Jubal's music, which is comprised of many genres including jazz, reggae, funk, and blues, is somewhat political, soulfully expressive, and often socially satirical. In 1999, Jubal moved to Austin, Texas, to reach a new audience and experience "the live music capitol of the world." Shortly after arriving in Austin from Tucson, Jubal was booked for several regular shows and also collaborated with other well-known local Austin bands. He has played on The Austin Music Network several times. In 2004 Jubal moved to The Front Range from Austin and has been astounding audiences with his solo act, the improvisational jam band "Lucid Alouishes," as well as his new roots reggae project "The Rude Boys." Jubal plays weekly in Denver, Nederland, and periodically in Boulder and other cities along The Front Range. Jubal's talents don't stop with his awe-inspiring music. Jubal is also a gifted sound engineer and has been asked to consult and/or run sound in many of the venues in Austin and elsewhere. Jubal is a nationally published poet and author. He began writing poetry in elementary school and became an assertive writer toward the end of high school. Jubal was given several national awards between 1995 and 1997. He is published in several nationally released anthologies and is a contributing writer for The Austin Paratimes News. Jubal's passion for freedom of thought and expression is clearly audible in songs and lyrics that range from simple inspiring melodies to much more intricate and complicated compositions. This Band's MySpace w/ Audio 4:45 PM to 6:15 PM - ALBINO! is a San Francisco-based, 12-piece all-star ensemble that honors the fiery legacy of Afrobeat visionary and Nigerian political outlaw Fela Kuti, “a musical and political voice on a par with Bob Marley” (All Music Guide). Albino’s melding of tightly-crafted arrangements and jazz-tinged harmonies with propulsive, high-energy grooves has firmly established the band as the West Coast’s premier Afrobeat act and has given the band the honor of "Best World Music Act" 2005 SF Music Awards. The Albino horn section’s boldly-syncopated barrage provides the unexpected knockout punch crucial to the authentic Afrobeat sound. On tenor sax and flute is Albino’s co-founder Nathan Endsley, a former contributor to the trance/world-beat ensemble Hamsa Lila. Singer and baritone sax man Michael Bello steps up to lend his gruff vocal growl to Albino’s socially conscious lyrical messages, essential to the Fela traditon. Baritone/alto saxophonist Jonathan Hoops rounds out the horn section’s “Heavy Heavy” bottom end. Hoops led the famed West Coast Rhythm Section and is a featured soloist with Burning Man sensation The Mutaytor. Trombonist and Seattle jazz disciple Charlie Wilson is a talented record producer whose musical travels have taken him across the US and to Western Europe. On trumpet is Ashley DuVal, member of the successful Bay Area reggae act The People. On drums is Michael Pinkham, whose rhythms have been the driving force behind such acts as Diego's Umbrella and Boca Do Rio. Pinkham studied tabla at the Ali Akbar College under Tim Witter and Swapan Chaudhuri, studied West African drumming with Ghanaian master drummer Kwaku Daddy, and has toured internationally with Samba do Coracao. Dancer/chekere player Kim Agnew fuses West African, Cuban, and Salsa dance styles into the uniquely electrifying style of motion and rhythm she contributes to Albino’s tireless groove. Prior to Albino, Kim performed with the Slaptones, a West African hip-hop band. She currently performs with several folklore companies and teaches a multi-cultural dance and music outreach program for inner city youth with the San Francisco Ballet. On bass is Kevin Blair, a native of Memphis who has studied and performed in Capetown, South Africa and in the rural Xhosa villages around Durban, lending the band his distinctive insight into southern African music. Keyboardist Bob Crawford, perhaps best known for his stint with Michae’s Franti’s band Spearhead, adds dizzying jazz and latin-inflected flair to Albino’s blistering jams. Tenor guitarist Cal Reichenbach is a seasoned producer, composer, and session guitarist who has worked with Cartoon Network and Sony PlayStation, and formerly led the funk/rock band Starvin Like Marvin. On rhythm guitar is Jacob Groopman, a jazz guitarist from the Oberlin Conservatory who has toured the US and Europe in a world-class jug band. Among the contributing members who routinely grace Albino's powerful line-up is Treviño Léon of Cuba has been a professional drummer in the Ewe tradition for the past 27 years. He also specializes in Afro-Cuban rhythms, and performs with the West African Music and Dance Ensemble. Treviño teaches Ghanaian, Beninian, Nigerian, and Cuban-African drum and dance workshops around the Bay Area. This Band's MySpace w/ Audio 6:15 PM - ‘Tweener Set: PAPAS IN THE SHED plays good stuff Maynard. 6:45 PM to 8:15 PM - MELVIN SEALS & JGB: Melvin has been a powerful presence in the music industry for over 30 years with a long-established reputation as a performer, recording artist and producer. He has played with legends such as Chuck Berry, Charlie Daniels and Elvin Bishop. But perhaps Melvin is most revered for his powerful and high-spirited Hammond B-3 organ and keyboards in the Jerry Garcia Band, adding his gospel-soul touches to the rhythm and blues base of the JGB. Melvin continues to treat music lovers to his unique brand of melodic flavor. The legendary Hammond B-3 wizard is introducing his new band along with a new CD release entitled, "Melvin Seals' and JGB" "Keepers of the Flame". Melvin is best known for his long friendship and musical partnership with cultural icon and guitarist Jerry Garcia and the smile of his that lights up the room. Melvin spun his B-3 magic with the Jerry Garcia Band for 18 years and in doing so helped pioneer and define what has now become "Jam Band Music". From blues to funk to rock to jazz, Melvin Seals serves up a tasty mix with a little R&B and gospel thrown in to spice things up. Melvin and JGB brings an intuitive, expressive style, soul, spontaneity and remarkable chops to the table. With acoustic and electric ingredients and unique combinations of guitar, mandolin, slide and lap steel with savory bass, hearty drums and, of course, a heapin' helpin' of the wizard's magic on Hammond B-3 Organ and keyboards, the result is a most satisfying blend of natural organic grooves that challenges genre boundaries. Their chemistry is the focus from which they create a spontaneous and high art where the sky is the limit musically. They offer an exciting, often psychedelic musical journey that keeps audiences dancing and smiling (and some staring in amazement) for several hours. Melvin is pioneering a path deeper into the musical territory he helped to establish. The Melvin Seals' performances are a must see, must feel experience!!! Their music is guaranteed to get into your soul, raise your spirit and get you groovin'!!!This Band's MySpace w/ Audio 8:15 PM - PATRICK LATELLA has been composing in Colorado for nine years, and finds inspiration in the majestic mountains, enchanted forests, and endless skies of the West. His compositions have been featured in the Warren Miller Ski Movies, "Endless Winter" and "Snowriders II". This Band's MySpace w/ Audio 8:45 PM to 10:25 PM - KAN'NAL's earthy tribal sounds and shamanistic visuals take you on a journey that is hard to forget. Futuristic and primitive, rhythmic and sensual, this experience transcends labels and genres, signaling a new evolution in modern music. The group of travelers met and formed in 2001 around the mystical Lake Atitlan located in the high mountains of Guatemala. At first as a guitar driven duo and later adding otherworldly percussion, didgeridoo, and bass, the band was developing a style that stands alone. While building an impressive following in Guatemala, which included one Top 10 radio hit and shows before thousands of people, Kan'nal quickly developed their unique approach to live performance by adding dance and theatre to the show. In their time back in North America, Kan’Nal has been featured at such festivals as the Om festival Canada, 10,000 Lakes MN, Legends festival TX, Belle Chere NC, Dreamtime CO, Burningman NV, Earthdance CA, and toured throughout the states, Mexico, and Guatemala. The group has developed into an inspirational primal rock experience that amazes audiences everywhere. Driven by a rhythm-heavy wall of tribal sounds, featuring percussionist Gilly Gonzales, didgeridoo and percussionist Aaron Jerad, and bassist Rodolfo Escobar, Kan'Nal instantly grabs at your primal core. From heartfelt melodies to mind-bending trance, Tierro’s guitar weaves into the mix. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Tzol fronts each live show with his spellbinding, soulful voice and poignant lyrics. Enhancing the musical experience are performance divas Teresita and Akayate, who lead a revolving tribe of dancers, characters and storytellers that span the visual and verbal performance spectrum with live movement theater. Mind-bending projection visuals and phenomenal production truly make the Kan’Nal experience a multi-sensory event. As one tribe of conscious and creative individuals, Kan’Nal is an inspirational primal rock experience of mixed mediums that leaves audiences speechless, striking the perfect balance between the psychedelic visual and the sonic explosion. The Kan’Nal experience. It will change you! Featuring Tierro (guitar), Tzol (vocals, guitar), Gilly (drums, percussion), Rodolfo (bass), Aaron (didgeridoo, percussion, samples), Teresita (dance, poetry), Akayate (dance, design). This Band's MySpace w/ Audio 10:30 PM - Late Night Show at the Black Forest Restaurant in Town - THE ETHEREAL PLANE is a band from Boulder County, Colorado that brings together a diverse musical background to form a sound that is an ever expanding journey through fusion, funk and rock as well as improvisational exploration. Combining liquid rhythms and liberty bell-bottom bass with soaring guitars, synth, loops and soulful vocals, the goal of the music is to unify the positive collective energy of the crowd and the band... and to encourage its growth. The trio consists of Patrick Latella (electric guitar, 6 & 12 string acoustic guitars, synthesizer, and vocals), Edwin Hurwitz (electric bass, bass synth, and loops), and Jason Folsom (drums, percussion, and vocals). They have been touring most of the summer, hitting Durango, Telluride, Albuquerque, Hollywood, Kansas City, St. Louis, Atlanta, Tampa, Clemson and Charleston... and will be returning directly from their West Coast tour to play Nedfest, having played Spokane, Olympia, Portland, Arcata, San Francisco, San Diego, Flagstaff and Durango along the way. This late night show is 100% FREE with your 3-Day NedFest ticket (until the place reaches maximum capacity, of course). The show costs $5.00 without a 3-Day NedFest ticket. This Band's MySpace w/ Audio ** PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMPORTANT ** NEDFEST INFORMATION THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW!! (Directions, Parking, Hours, Camping & Lodging, etc.)
11:00 AM to NOON - SOUL RECLUSION is a hip hop band from Nederland with MC Recluse, MC Prakoshis, John 'Blackdog' Ridnell on guitar, Todd May on drums, and Jacques on bass. Call it... Rocky Mountain Hick Hop?? This Band's MySpace w/ Audio NOON - ‘Tweener Set: CREW MURPHY, aka Brett Bartlow, is a local Nederland DJ who spins records. 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM - THE CODETALKERS was founded by the legendary COL. BRUCE HAMPTON (known by many as the Godfather of Southern Alternative Music and inventor of the chazoid) and Bobby Lee Rogers (an extraordinary multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and singer) six years ago. The group added Tyler "The Falcon" Greenwell (drums) to the mix four years ago and Ted "Chief Whitehorse" Pecchio (bass) re-joined the band two years ago. Influenced both by Hampton's 40 years of blues and other musical madness and Rodgers extensive education in Jazz, the band's songs (most are written by Rodgers) take on a musical variety that harkens also to Rodgers' childhood playing bluegrass and James Brown records. Audiences will hear funk galore, and swinging country-blues infused tunes, all with an intelligence and sense of humor that keeps the smiling crowd on it's feet all night long! Col. Bruce Hampton and Bobby Lee Rodgers both knew upon first meeting that they were destined to work together. It has now been 5 years since the pair formed The CodeTalkers, and once again Col. Bruce Hampton has managed to bring us music will tickle your fancy and kick your ass, as he has been doing for over 30 years now. After starting acts such as the Hampton Grease Band, Aquarium Rescue Unit (where he helped start the H.O.R.D.E. Tour), and the Fiji Mariners, in 1999 he formed his most accessible group yet. Along the way, Col. Bruce appeared with Billy Bob Thornton in "Slingblade" and in Phish's Mike Gordon’s movie “Outside Out,” which features Bruce as a guitar instructor who teaches "how to play out." The film won best picture at SXSW 2000. Hampton seemed to be astrologically attracted to Rodgers, as he immediately guessed his birthday, and went on to discover both shared the same major planetary influences, as well as the same unique sense of humor. Hampton also saw a great song-writing and musical talent and set upon the mission to get Rodgers' music heard. The band these days consists of Hampton on guitar and vocals (and occasionally harmonica,) Rodgers on guitar, banjo and vocals, Tyler Greenwell on drums, and Ted Pecchio on bass. This line-up has been intact since last spring (when Pecchio re-joined after a brief hiatus,) and have really gelled over the past months into one of the tightest jam bands on the scene, thanks in part to this rock-solid rhythm section which keeps things “groovy and neck-nodding as hell (Jambands.com).” [RECENT NEWS: Col. Bruce will not appear w/ The Codetalkers due to Health issues.] This Band's MySpace w/ Audio 2:00 PM - ‘Tweener Set: REBECCA FOLSOM says: I was born and raised in the foothills of Boulder, Colorado with the Rocky Mountains in my backyard, and a big city out front. I still love the mountains and I enjoy visiting cities. My number one passion since Elementary School has been music and singing; although I thought about writing and illustrating children's books for a while. I used to sing my sister to sleep every night from the bottom bunk. Carol King was one of my first influences. My parents listened to a lot of James Taylor and Elton John. My very first album was the Beatles "Revolver". I liked the artwork on the cover as well as the music. My first concert was Earth, Wind, and Fire. I started my own music collection with Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, The Band, etc....I liked the older, more acoustic stuff. The best concert I ever went to, hands down, was Bob Marley’s "Babylon By Bus" Tour. I started writing my own music at age 13 and began performing my songs at school events and talent contests. After a few twists and turns I dropped out of high school, and put music on the back burner. I got my GED early and went on to art school with a focus in painting and drawing. I graduated with a mixed focus of painting and performance art. My BFA was done swinging from the rafters of the University Gallery in a graduation gown made of bright blue and purple feathers, while singing a song about being a Phi Beta Kappa. I believe "Gold Star Girl" was the name of the song. I returned to singing after a month long trip to Egypt where I experienced toning and chanting in the temples and great pyramids. I was deeply moved by that part of the world and I came home with a renewed desire to sing through everything. The CD "Welcome Home" was very much inspired by this trip. The artwork was created on Papyruses brought back from Egypt, with a focus on the singing, dancing, flying and empowered woman. The second CD "Many Miles" was inspired by years of singing at every gig imaginable. Dank smoky clubs, awesome smoky clubs, private parties, people's homes, coffee houses, barn dances, etc. There were many great experiences, some that were deeply satisfying and quite a few that were high on adventure and I am thrilled to have survived. The third CD "Across the Sky", marks a new era of listening venues....house concerts, listening rooms, festivals and concerts. This album is inspired by a number of things, but two of the strongest are a vision quest while out in the wilderness for a few days, and the loss of a very dear friend to cancer. This is an album about letting go, the freedom inherent in that release, and the wisdom of uncertainty. It's always good to remember we have to give it all back in the end; to enjoy and savor what is present, and certainly not to forget to laugh at the folly. This Band's MySpace w/ Audio 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM - VINCE HERMAN & THE GREAT AMERICAN TAXI - Things come and go, ebb and flow in the jamband world. Your favorite bands have probably gone through lineup changes, breakups or hiatuses (hiataii?) over the years. With the flourishing new band Great American Taxi, your next favorite band is harnessing some of the momentum of change and reining it in to form a tight vortex of Americana roots rocking and rolling. This collective was initially formed as a one-off jam session for a charity event in Boulder, CO in the spring of 2005. Now approaching a year of collaboration, the five-piece core of the group is making waves all over the place in the Colorado high country and across the plains of the Midwest. Headed up by former Leftover Salmon front man and Master of Festivaaaal Ceremonies Vince Herman, these guys are ready to pick you up and take you anywhere your rump-shaking self needs to go. Chicks dig drummers. At least, that's the story to which Jake Coffin, Boulder local and seasoned touring veteran, is sticking. Jake is a high energy, swinging impresario of the skins who keeps the meter running and the trips on time. Brian Schey is the one-man support group for the band, holding down the one and laying out the launching pad when its time to depart. As a long time collaborator with Jake, Schey knows where and when to report with the funky bass line that keeps the wheels spinning smoothly. Our man with the plan, Chad Staehly, hailing from Fort Collins, is the gas in the tank, both on and off the stage. On any given Taxi ride, Staehly can be found in the driver's seat behind the keys, filling it in, rounding it out and generally making the melodies and rhythms jump up and shake your bones. But make no mistake about it, Staehly hands out solo breaks and hotel keys with equal proficiency, as he is the default manager and kitten herder for the group as well. And last but certainly not least is the turbo-booster axe slinger Jefferson Hamer. Hamer has most recently been with the Single Malt Band as a multi-instrumentalist and is using this more electric platform to showcase his high octane Texas-twang-meets-high-country-wail style. As a songwriter and guitar stuntman, Hamer shows a wide variety of skill and dexterity in his playing and is sure to make your ear and your booty both jump up and get down. Keep your eyes peeled for great original tunes like American Way and Ride when you make it to a show or three, and don't be surprised when the Great American Taxi ride takes you further on down the line. This Band's MySpace w/ Audio 4:00 PM - ‘Tweener Set: BLISK is a power trio consisting of Silas Herman on guitar and Ridnell brothers Miles and Noah on bass and drums respectedly... all of whom are under the age of 13. Yes... we're talking about Blackdog and Vince Herman's kids here. 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM - BILL EVANS & SOULGRASS: Throughout his 20-year career as a solo artist, multi Grammy nominated saxophonist Bill Evans has explored a variety of musical settings that go well beyond the confines of traditional jazz, including hip-hop, fusion, reggae, Brazilian and slamming funk. Evans steps into more adventurous territory with Soulgrass, blending jazz, funk and roots music into a seamless and wholly unique hybrid of quintessentially American styles. He started playing piano before switching to tenor sax in high school. After one year of studying music at North Texas State University he transferred to William Patterson College in New Jersey in 1978 and also began private studies with sax great and former Miles Davis sideman, Dave Liebman. Through Liebman’s recommendation, he was tapped by Miles in 1980, at the age of 22, to play a key role in Miles’ celebrated comeback band. Bill became Miles’ right-hand man and soloistic foil in concert and on a series of recordings -- 1981’s The Man With The Horn, 1982’s We Want Miles, 1983’s Star People and 1984’s Decoy. After leaving Davis’ band in 1984, Evans joined John McLaughlin in a reconstituted edition of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, appearing on 1985’s Mahavishnu and 1987’s Adventures in Radioland. He also toured and recorded through the 80s with the band Elements (with keyboardist Cliff Carter, bassist Mark Egan and drummer Danny Gottlieb) and through the ‘90s with Petite Blonde (an all-star fusion band he formed which was comprised of bassist Victor Bailey, drummer Dennis Chambers, guitarist Chuck Loeb and Evans on tenor and soprano saxes) and also with former Police guitarist Andy Summers. More recently, Evans has toured Europe and the States with the Soulbop band, which he co-leads with trumpeter Randy Brecker. Bill’s solo debut came in 1984 with Living in the Crest of a Wave and he followed up in 1985 with Alternative Man. In the early ‘90s, he was one of the first to blend hip-hop and jazz in a musical way on a triumvirate of recordings -- 1993’s Push, 1994’s Live in Europe and 1995’s Escape. He followed those groundbreaking recordings with 1997’s Starfish and The Moon, 1999’s Touch and 2001’s Grammy nominated Soul Insider, which featured a guest appearance by soul-jazz legend Les McCann. Bill followed that success with 2003’s groove-oriented Big Fun, which featured a cameo spot by country star Willie Nelson. In 2005, BHM Records released the exhilarating Soul Bop Band “Live”, which captured the all-star group fronted by Evans and Randy Brecker and featuring drummer Steve Smith, guitarist Hiram Bullock, bassist Victor Bailey and pianist Dave Kikoski in full stride during a whirlwind summer tour last year. His daring collaboration with Bela Fleck and Nashville session aces Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan and Jerry Douglas on Soulgrass is Bill's latest exploration in an ever-evolving career. The ground-breaking Soulgrass recording was nominated for a Grammy in 2005. Because of his respect and adulation among fellow artists in the music world, Bill was able to call upon the stellar musicians who appeared on the recording. Joining the great saxophonist on this pioneering effort, which was recorded entirely in Nashville, was banjo legend Bela Fleck. Bela was so taken with the project that he not only played on but also co-produced 6 of the 10 tracks. Also joining Bill were progressive bluegrass greats Sam Bush on mandolin, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Jerry Douglas on dobro and Pat Bergeson on acoustic guitar and harmonica. Other special guests includes Bela Fleck Flecktones band mate Victor Wooten on electric bass, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Mark Egan on electric bass, Bruce Hornsby, Clifford Carter and Dave Kikoski on keyboards, David Charles on percussion and John Scofield on guitar. Evans says that the idea of exploring an adventurous and unlikely hybrid of bluegrass and jazz was actually something he had in mind for years. “I’ve been an Americana fan ever since my Miles days. I liked the sound of mandolin, banjo, dobro and fiddle and I thought that music had a very cool rhythmic approach, even though I never really knew the names of the players or the tunes. But I just connected with that music in some way. So it had been in the back of my mind for years to do a project like this. I had been listening to some Americana and bluegrass stuff. I had some Bill Monroe CDs at home and also listened to recordings by Bruce Hornsby, the Flecktones and that project that Bela did with Mark O’Connor and Edgar Meyer, Appalachian Waltz. So I was doing a lot of listening, just immersing myself in all of this Americana music to inspire me in that mode. And once I got in there, I just started cranking out the tunes, keeping these instruments in mind. Then when we all got together in the studio to record, I was pleased to see that it all fit like a glove.” Bill Evans has assembled another powerhouse touring band, featuring some of the most in-demand musicians on the scene. Bill Evans Soulgrass includes Ric Fierabracci from Chick Corea fame on electric bass, on drums Joel Rosenblatt, who toured with Spyrogyra for 11 years, multi-genre improviser on fiddle, Christian Howes, and young banjo phenom Ryan Cavanaugh. Bill Evan’s now brings Soulgrass to the US audiences who have been writing him for years to tour the states. Bill says, “It’s amazing to see the ecstatic response from people every night who have never heard banjo, fiddle and saxophone together in this context. “ Bill Evans Soulgrass has been described by the newspaper El Mundo from Madrid Spain as “the most energizing and fresh sounding blend of Americana and Funk,” but Bills innovative music and high-energy live shows speak for themselves. 6:00 PM - ‘Tweener Set: ARMANDO ZUPPA was born in Rome, Italy and has lived there until 1996. At the age of 6 has started playing guitar and soon was playing with numerous bands throughout High School and College. It wasn’t until 1990 that he fell in love with the banjo and with Bluegrass Music. In Italy had his first Bluegrass band, The Soda Rangers playing shows in Rome and surrounding cities as well as on the Radio with the band as well as in a duo called Street Blues Duel. As the banjo was becoming a very important part of his life as a musician he moved to Denver, Colorado in 1996 and that’s where he still lives. In Colorado he has had numerous bands and shared the stage with some of the best musicians in the state including Ross Martin (Tony Furtado Band, Freedom Ride, Molly O’Brien Band, The Motet), Matt Flinner, Tony Furtado, Tony Trishcka, Ben Kaufman (Yonder Mountain String Band), Tempa and the Tantrums to name a few. Between the year 1998 and 2003 has toured along with the Italian Newgrass Band “New Country Kitchen” within the American Midwest including playing at the prestigious Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival, Taste Of Colorado Festival and the Crestone Music Festival. In 2001 the CD “Zupperman” (produced by Italy’s #1 Fiddler Anchise Bolchi) was released and encountered an unanimous enthusiasm and favor among the music industry. Bluegrass Unlimited, Dirty Linen and other major magazines all had great reviews of the Album. Armando’s new CD "Soup Kitchen” has been released October 24th 2005 under the Avant Acoustic label. Nowadays Armando plays a variety of different genres on the Banjo and performs in a variety of formats: as a solo, duo, trio of with the full 4 piece band. His repertoire includes Rock, Bluegrass, Swing, Jazz and Classical Music. It’s the mix of those apparently not related genres that makes his music unforgettable and unique and a show you’ll want to tell your friends about. Armando will be joined by Chris Misner on snare drum and local Nederlander Dave 'The Pump' Solzberg on upright acoustic bass. 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM - THE MOTET featuring JANS INGBER is a world-class ensemble that whips audiences into a whirling frenzy using sheer impromptu force. The rhythms are spontaneous and textured and the beats are hard-driving-- energy the band uses to create a repertoire between themselves and the audience that is rarely seen in today's world of manufactured rock. The Motet consecrates the ground on which dance music meets free-form improvisation, and the audience responds to the primal, sacred sound. Using the rich musical landscape of Boulder, CO as their muse, The Motet continues to reinvent their sound while staying true to their various roots. Founded in 1998 by drummer Dave Watts, the Motet has become one of the best improvisational bands touring today, fusing elements of Afrobeat, Afro-Cuban, funk, latin and jazz. While their influences are easily recognized, their overall sound defies categorization. At the heart of the band is Watts, who single-handedly composes and arranges all of the band's music. Therefore, much of the distinctive character of the Motet's sound comes from having complex compositions created from, and revolving around, a drummer's perspective. Featuring Dave Watts (drums), Garrett Sayers (bass), Scott Messersmith (percussion), Dominic Lalli (saxophone), Adam Revell (keyboards), Ryan Jalbert (guitar) and the great Jans Ingber (vocals). This Band's MySpace w/ Audio 8:00 PM - 'Tweener Set: PERCUSSION DE KISSIDOUGOU, a West African percussion and dance troupe, was established in late 2004 by master drummer and dancer Fara Tolno from Guinea, West Africa. Tolno spent most of his youth in Kissidougou and Conakry. Playing djembe since the age of 9, he has traveled extensively teaching both drumming and dance. He spent 9 years as the lead drummer for the Merveilles (the younger ensemble akin to Le Ballet Africans) under the tutelage of Kemoko Sano. Today, Fara lives in Boulder Colorado and teaches extensively both locally and nationwide. The Members of Percussion de Kissidougou are blessed with an enormous amount of Fara's attention and energy as they rehearse, travel, perform and pursue the larger vision of Percussion de Kissidougou. The troupe consists of percussionists Nathan Vellinga, Jules Maxwell, Andy Otterstrom, Tober Schorr and Scott Griffiths... and dancers Jaime Duggan, Kellie Pederson, Stacey Dinner, Kat Gurley. The mission of Kissidougou is to spread the beauty of West African music, dance, drumming, culture, history and language. This Band's MySpace w/ Audio 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM - SAM BUSH BAND has more than earned the moniker 'King of Newgrass', though he admits a certain discomfort with it. As cofounder and leader of the seminal progressive bluegrass band New Grass Revival through 18 years during the 1970s and 80s, Bush may not be the only person responsible for newgrass, the wild bluegrass stepchild that features rock n roll grooves and extended virtuosic jams, but since New Grass Revival's dissolution in 1989, Bush has certainly been one of the most brilliant of newgrasss many bright lights. Besides helming the ever-popular Sam Bush Band, featured on the upcoming release Laps in Seven, the mandolin prodigy from Kentucky has been a prodigious influence on musicians young and old. Bands like Nickel Creek, Yonder Mountain String Band, and String Cheese Incident, to name just a few, are indebted to Bushs example, not only in his wide-ranging choice of material and rock-based acoustic grooves, but by his captivating, high-energy live shows, which have made him an in demand headliner, and fan fave at important festivals like NedFest, Telluride and MerleFest. When not heading his own band, Bush has spent the past 15 years as a supersideman with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, and the Flecktones; spearheaded boundary-stretching collaborations with Edgar Meyer, Mark OConnor, and David Grisman, and driven nearly every bluegrass supergroup imaginable with his inimitable mandolin playing. "I wanted to try something different", Bush says of how he approached the new record, inadvertently defining his lifelong approach to music. "I wanted to shake things up a bit while still displaying the live sound of the road band". Bush's band is a tight crew of Nashvilles most in demand studio musicians, including (previous 2005) guitarist Keith Sewell (Stephen Mougin has joined the band since the recording was made as guitar picker/harmony vocalist), Byron House on bass, Chris Brown on drums and banjoist Scott Vestal. Vestal's presence marks one of the striking differences that Bush was aiming for. His dynamic, inventive playing will certainly remind listeners of the last days of New Grass Revival, which, of course, featured a young Béla Fleck. "I cant tell you how much I love playing with Scott," Sam says of his most recent banjo buddy. "He can play everything, but he doesnt feel compelled to put it in every song." In addition to giving his band room to romp, the something different that Bush was looking for often occurs when one of his many special guests joins the proceedings. For example, the opening track, Julie Miller's "The River's Gonna Run" features Bush's old boss Emmylou Harris in a duet vocal with Bush, as well as the electric and acoustic guitar playing of Buddy Miller. "Buddy gets a sound out of an acoustic guitar that bluegrassers dont get", says Bush. "He's all about painting the landscape. He doesnt try to stand out, he just tries to make a big wall of sound, and boy he really does on this track." Such a powerful, rockin and emotional opener needed a strong follow up, and it got one -- probably the most traditional-sounding bluegrass cut on any of Bush's solo CDs, the Charlie Monroe classic "Bringing in the Georgia Mail", which features the Sam Bush Band doing what they do best: throwing down the bluegrass gauntlet and waiting to see if anyone is brave enough to pick it up. Not many who hear this rousing rendition will be so bold. After establishing both his rock and bluegrass credentials, Bush spends much of Laps in Seven paying tribute to old friends and musical influences. John Hartford's "On the Road" gives worthy respect to his dear, departed cohort and a natural for Bushs flexible band. "New Grass Revival used to play that song with John a lot", Bush recalls. "For a few years, 1975-80 or so, we played a lot of shows with John". And that was one of the more fun ones to jam on. Though the song is in 5/4, the rhythm flows naturally from Hartfords lyrical phrasing, creating the kind of complex yet accessible song that Bush and company revel in. "I Wanna Do Right", a rendre hommage to Gulf Coast hurricane survivors was co-written by Bush and Jeff Black , a favorite writer on previous Bush recordings, and features an R&B duet with Little Feats own Shaun Murphy (who also arranged back-up vocals of the Do-Right Singers). Darrell Scott, another talented former guitar picker in the SBB, contributes yet another of his extraordinary songs, a lyrical and haunting version of "River Take Me". Other Bush friends and favorites include Leon Russell's "Ballad For a Soldier", as timely a song now as it was years ago when he wrote it, and Robbie Fulk's "Where Theres a Road", a story for touring musicians everywhere. Bush has written a number of songs with songwriter John Pennell, and the latest is "Riding that Bluegrass Train", which gives a nod to bluegrass/newgrass music, horse racing, and Baltimore banjoist Walter Hensley, whose 1960s recording Pickin' on New Grass, was the first place Bush heard the words that would come to define his music. To give it that high-lonesome sound, Bush called on Tim O'Brien to sing the high harmony vocals. "Tim and I play the same instruments so we hardly ever get to play on the same records, Bush says. Tim just nailed the harmony, it was effortless." Though Bush is most often known as a mandolinist, he's also a champion fiddler and on two tracks he pays tribute to two violinists who helped push his fiddle playing into the rock arena when he was a youngster. On the rock classic "White Bird", Bush and Andrea Zonn update violinist David LaFlamme's enduring composition, both vocally and in a soaring violin arrangement that expands and improves on the original. The recording of Jean-Luc Ponty's "New Country", which has been a live Sam Bush Band fave, includes a scintillating performance by Ponty himself, playing twin fiddles with Bush. This track is the result of a meeting at last summers Telluride Bluegrass Festival, at which Ponty sat in with Bush and company. "I've been a fan of Jean-Luc since his first record, Sunday Walk, came out in America, says Bush. He is the king of jazz-rock violin. He was at Telluride playing with another trio, so I asked him if he would play New Country with us. To be standing there looking over at him right beside me was a dream come true, something I never imagined could happen. So I thought it would be great to get him to record it, too. We recorded the track and sent it to him in France. When we got it back and I heard the beauty of his playing, tears just streamed down my face. It was as joyful a moment as Ive ever had. It's nice to be 54 years old and still just be totally overwhelmed by something, says Bush of recording with Ponty. I was just as excited as I would have been if it happened when I was 16, when I first heard him." Rounding out this musical adventure are two of Bushs signature instrumentals. This recording features "The Dolphin Dance" and "Laps In Seven", a drinking tune written by Sam, Byron and Scott and inspired by Bush's dog Ozzie. Sam Bush's ability to be continually touched and amazed by new music may be the quality that makes him such a successful and virtuosic performer and band leader. He helped create newgrass music almost 35 years ago, but Laps in Seven is evidence that hes still as vital a presence on the acoustic music scene as ever: still making new sounds, still rockin out on great songs, and still pushing the bar higher for the legions of his protégés, fans and friends. This Band's MySpace w/ Audio |
