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The Secret Life of Banjos is a program of interactive banjolity never heard before on any world stage, featuring two masters
of the five string banjo. Jody Stecher and Bill Evans bring a shared passionate lifelong involvement and fascination with
the banjo to a concert that explores and celebrates the diversity, excitement, charm and history of one of America's most
celebrated but misunderstood instruments. You'll hear solos and duets; original pieces, chestnuts and rarities; 19th century
minstrel and classic banjo; bluegrass, rags, blues and old-time playing; banjo songs and instrumentals and much more, all
performed on a vast array of fretted and fretless banjos with open backs and resonators, strung with strings of steel, nylon
and gut and bearing names such as Gibson, Bacon, Cole and Vega.
Jody Stecher has been playing five string banjo for 47 years since finding,at the age of twelve, a venerable and dusty
fretless Gatcomb in an antique shop and finding it irresistible even at two dollars. His music exemplifies the open door between
tradition and creative personal expression. Jody is a renowned singer and multi-instrumentalist whose music has been a significant
influence on several generations of musicians on several continents. His recordings have won Indy Awards and have been Grammy
finalists. Jody has performed as a solo, in duet with Kate Brislin, in the bluegrass band Perfect Strangers and in other combinations,
but Secret Life of Banjos is his first endeavor devoted entirely to the banjo.
Bill Evans began playing banjo in middle school after seeing Roy Clark play the banjo on Hee Haw and thinking to himself,
"I could do that." Bill has spent the last 35 years applying what he's learned one-on-one from such masters as Sonny
Osborne, J.D. Crowe, Bill Keith and Tony Trischka into a personal fusion of old and new approaches. His foundation in bluegrass
has been enhanced by a keen interest in banjo history leading to a lifelong exploration of 19th century minstrel and classic
styles and a degree in ethnomusicology as an American music historian. Bill has performed all over the world with such musicians
as David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Laurie Lewis,Tony Trischka, Dry Branch Fire Squad, and Bluegrass Intentions, among others.
His 2002 CD "Bill Evans Plays Banjo" was named a Top 10 Bluegrass CD of the Year by the Chicago Tribune.
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