Greg Garrison, former bass player with Punch Brothers and Leftover Salmon, has come up with a fascinating concept for a concert series launching next month in Denver. The idea is to bring note bluegrass/acoustic and jazz musicians together to perform with he and noted trumpet man Ron Miles at Denver’s Dazzle Jazz Club.
The initial show in Greg’s Improvised Roots Series will feature flatpicker Bryan Sutton and Bill Frisell, a highly influential guitarist whose work ranges across jazz, rock, blues and country styles.
Greg suggests that the shows will cover a lot of ground.
“I think the music we’ll play will wind up being a really interesting cross section of American styles. Some bluegrass and folk tunes, some original compositions, and who knows what else. I’ve worked with Bryan a bunch (with Chris Thile and on a couple of his own things), and Frisell and Ron are two of my biggest musical heroes, so I couldn’t be more excited about what’s going to happen on those two nights!”
This show will run July 16-17 at Dazzle Jazz. Full details can be found online.
Garrison is also gearing up for a brief Leftover Salmon reunion tour this summer and fall. He will join founding members Drew Emmit on mandolin and Vince Herman on guitar, along with Andy Thorn on banjo, Bill McKay on keyboards and Jose Martinez on percussion.
Leftover Salmon are announcing four Northeast dates for fall 2011. This will be the band’s first tour through the region in 8 years. Founding members Drew Emmitt and Vince Herman will be joined by Greg Garrison (bass), Andy Thorn (banjo), Bill McKay (keys) and Jose Martinez (drums). Emmitt says that these dates and addition of banjoist Andy Thorn are the start of a brand new era for the band and that they are thrilled to be kicking it all off in some of their favorite Northeast cities.
