The band is. . .
Tony Furtado - singer, banjo, slide guitar, ukulele
Luke Price - fiddle
Todd Sickafoose - acoustic bass
Simon Chrisman - hammered dulcimer
Tony Furtado
Tony is an evocative and soulful singer, a wide-ranging songwriter and a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist adept on banjo, cello-banjo, slide guitar and baritone ukulele who mixes and matches sounds and styles with the flair of a master chef (he’s also an accomplished sculptor, but that’s another story). All of the music of America is in Tony’s music. Relix hit the nail on the head when writing of Tony: “True talent doesn’t need categories.”
“Tony Furtado, banjo player, is back…in a big way,” writes banjo master Tony Trischka in his liner notes to Decembering, the brand-new album from Tony Furtado. “He’s planted his flag in the midst of the fertile ground that is modern banjo. Texturally fresh, confidently audacious, rich and giving, this recording is a masterpiece.” Decembering is a welcome return to the banjo and a much-needed ray of sunshine and light in these troubled times.
Tony has performed throughout the world at top venues and appeared at such prestigious music festivals as the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, Jazz Aspen, Kerrville Folk Festival, Strawberry Music Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Sisters Folk Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival and countless others. He especially values the opportunities he has had to tour with such legendary musicians as Gregg Allman and with such esteemed slide guitarists as David Lindley, Derek Trucks and Sonny Landreth.
Luke Price
Five-time Grand National Fiddle Champion Luke Price is a multi-instrumentalist performer, composer, and studio musician based in Portland, OR. He has his roots in American fiddling and swing traditions, but his interests and influences are diverse ranging through Soul, Jazz, Pop, and Americana. Luke is a Berklee School of Music alum and regularly plays and sings in a vintage soul/pop tinged band, “Love, Dean” alongside his wife Rachael Price. Luke brings a unique voice to any music he plays, whether he’s on the fiddle, guitar, or singing.
Todd Sickafoose
Todd Sickafoose (Ani DiFranco, Anais Mitchell) is a Tony and Grammy award-winning composer, producer, arranger, orchestrator, bandleader and double bassist. He makes richly moving, imaginative music which has been called "thoroughly original, endlessly creative” by Jazz Times and "stunningly brilliant” by Bassplayer. He has performed on hundreds of recordings, toured internationally, appeared at music venues and festivals from Carnegie Hall to New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and played on national television and radio programs including the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with Conan O’Brien, The Artists Den, and NPR’s Mountain Stage. Known as a musical cross-breeder who stretches across genres, Sickafoose has been described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “a captivating improviser, imaginative composer, and master of collaboration”.
Simon Chrisman
Oregon-based Simon Chrisman is a groundbreaking hammer dulcimer virtuoso transforming the instrument by blending sophisticated chamber music, celtic music, jazz, and bluegrass with pop-inspired melodic sensibilities. His innovative approach challenges previous limitations, earning international acclaim for redefining the instrument's technique and range. Simon can also be seen performing with the likes of The Bee Eaters, Heremy Kittel, and Wes Corbett.
Tony Furtado Quartet will take the Strawberry Main Stage on Sunday, October 18th.
