have been digging among the roots of pop music since they
met at an open mic in a basement dive in New Hampshire in
1993. With more or less old school instruments they tap
the street music tradition for which they are named, then
go much further, with serious musicianship, a sense of humor,
and energy to burn. Their kitchen sink repertoire ignores
boundaries between jazz, folk and rock. Their sound is defined
only by deep respect for the craft of songwriting and arranging
and a shared love for the inventive possibilities of improvisation.
|
|
|
| |
Craig
Jaster (piano, bass, accordion,
vocals) has played with the late Big Joe Burrell (B.B. King,
Count Basie) and trumpeter Tiger Okoshi, and performs regularly
with jazz guitarist Paul Bourgelais and reedsman Rik Pfenninger.
He has recorded with Rik Pfenninger, Sweet, Hot & Sassy,
and The Parlour Band, as well as for a CBS TV production
of the play On Golden Pond. From 1999-2004 he taught jazz
piano at Plymouth State University and performed with the
PSU Faculty Jazz Ensemble. He has opened for The Yellowjackets,
Arturo Sandoval, Dianne Reeves, and to his everlasting pleasure,
the late great Ray Charles. His day job is Performing Arts
Department Head at the Sant
Bani School, an independent K-12 school in Sanbornton,
NH.
|
|
| |
Kathy (KZ) Sommer
(acoustic & electric violins, mandolin, vocals) has
studied with latin jazz maestro Eddie Palmieri, the Turtle
Island String Quartet, national fiddlers Matt Glaser, Mark
O’Connor, Jay Ungar, and mandolinist Peter Ostroushko.
She lived in New Hampshire for many years, where she played
and recorded with the swing band Sweet, Hot & Sassy,
played for contra and square dances, taught violin and gave
fiddle workshops. Since moving to northern New York State
in 2004, when not touring with The Buskers, she plays freelance
with a number of area bluegrass and jazz musicians. She
returns to New Hampshire every September to run a weekend-long
acoustic music camp (www.fiddleheadscamp.com)
with old fiddling friend Ellen Carlson (High Range Band). |
|
| |
Paul
Hubert (guitar, voice) has
performed extensively as a solo artist on classical guitar
and as a singer/songwriter, and with various musical groups,
including since 1973, the rock group White Light; in the
1980's as half of The Marty & Paul Show (a.k.a. The
Party & Maul Show); and in the early '90's, with the
new age group Earth Ecos. He also plays trombone with The
Baker Valley Band, a central New Hampshire wind band. He
has produced three solo recordings and recorded two albums
with White
Light. Paul has an ongoing relationship with the New
Hampshire Very Special Arts program. His day job is teaching
music at the Andover, NH Elementary/Middle School.
|
|
Drummers: The
Buskers tour with fine freelance drummers, including Tim
Gilmore, who teaches at PSU and the Concord Community
Music School and has played with Lester Bowie, Marian McPartland
and Tower of Power; Paul Knowles, who perfoms
with the Jim Burr Trio, Northbound Jazz Quartet and the Frank
Sacci Big Band; and Gary Gemmiti, drummer
of choice on the NH seacoast for years, who currently tours
with Mighty Sam McCain, among others. Drummers
emeritus: Ted Zarras ( The Chicken Wire Gang,
Kathryn Whelan's Jazz Squad, The Countdown Quartet) played
with the Buskers from 2001-2004. Bob Woodbury
(USMC Band, The Rusty Rockstar Road Show) and Barry
Nelson (Annie & The Orphans) played on our first
album. |
|
|