Author: Dave Berry

San Jose–based Jason Keiser is yet another in the suddenly burgeoning field of young players who easily crosses boundaries from jazz and bluegrass. He studied at East Tennessee State University with guitarist Wyatt Rice. Jason's primary instrument is the guitar,

"Bluegrass and folk alchemy with psychedelic and punk influences" is how the Los Angeles-based Water Tower Band is described on their web site. Led by co-founder Kenny Feinstein, the band has endless energy emitting old-time sounds in a modern musical

Suzy Thompson of Berkeley, CA has seemingly always been an integral part of the Bay Area acoustic music scene. She's played with her music partner Eric Thompson and a long line of folks, such as the Todalo Shakers, Thompsonia, the

This is a follow-up to the Bluegrass Today interview with John a couple months back, which mostly covered his latest album, New Time & Old Acoustic. He had expressed an interest in talking about his years with Tony Rice, so this

Sam Bush at the 2022 Siesta Valley Strings & Things Festival - photo by Mary Ann Goldstein A new single-day Siesta Valley Strings & Things festival, put on by Paper Moon Presents, took place Sunday, July 31 featuring Sam Bush alongside a

Jody Richardson and Robert Earl Davis This is an update to a California Bluegrass Association (CBA) Breakdown interview from 2015. Jody Richardson, is no stranger to San Francisco bluegrass and old-time audiences. She's played fiddle in two stellar San Francisco bands—the

Mike Compton leads a mandolin workshop at the 2022 CBA Music Camp The California Bluegrass Association Music Camp that immediately proceeds the Fathers Day Festival calls Wednesday transition day, which is a very applicable theme for life and this short column.

John Reischman - photo by Snap Jackson Grammy winner, mandolinist, composer, and instructor John Reischman has way too many credentials to be listed here. His bio tells the story of a musician's musician and master of many styles, yet his sound

California Bluegrass Association member Ida Winfree is a former CBA Youth Ambassador. She plays mandolin and guitar in two bands—North Country Blue and West 45. She's currently based in the California Central Valley town of Turlock, and when not playing

Tom Bekeny is another in a pretty deep bench of great Bay Area mandolin players, most of whom aren't as well known as they should be. Tom, an instructor, plays mandolin and fiddle, and is well versed in both jazz