Only 2 appearances in the Maryland-DC region: Common Ground on the Hill in Westminster and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.! In an ever-expanding body of work, Jens Kruger (banjo, vocals), Uwe Kruger (guitar, lead vocals), and Joel Landsberg (bass, vocals) personify the spirit of exploration and innovation that forms the core of the American musical tradition. The result is a catalog of songs and music distinguished by its rich detail and an insight into the delicacy and complexity of everyday life. The honesty of their writing has become a hallmark of the trio’s work. Another is the banjo playing and composition of Jens Kruger. Happy Traum has described Kruger as “one of the world’s most musically sophisticated and technically accomplished five-string banjo players.” Steve Martin has described Jens Kruger as “one of the great technicians” of bluegrass as well as “a very expressive player.” Kruger plays in a melodic style that, while it may stem from the three-finger bluegrass style popularized by Snuffy Jenkins and Earl Scruggs, is also differentiated by long melodic passages and a more complex compositional foundation, often building on jazz or classical themes and techniques.
In recognition of his style and skill, Jens Kruger is an inductee to the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame (2011) and is the fourth recipient of the coveted Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass (2013). He has also been nominated for International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Banjo Player of the Year (2016). Most recently their music has ventured further into the themes and forms of classical music, most obviously in their 2011 release, Appalachian Concerto and the 2015 release Lucid Dreamer. Through their numerous CD releases, radio and television performances, workshops, and collaborative efforts, the Kruger Brothers continue to provide a unique voice in the world of folk, Americana and classical music.
