Gordy/Somers/Walsh

Event information

Gordy, Somers & Walsh are three of the most interesting instrumentalists/singers working on the contemporary acoustic music scene in the USA and UK today. With virtuosic guitar and mandolin picking complemented by hot double bass and occasional saxophone, these talented and versatile musicians will delight you with their repertoire ranging from driving modern bluegrass to cool jazz..

Grant Gordy is renowned in both bluegrass and jazz circles as a brilliant acoustic guitarist and Joe Walsh is hailed as one of the most talented mandolin players to emerge in recent years. They've teamed up for this special transatlantic project with their friend Ben Somers, London double bass ace and sax player.

Grant Gordy (acoustic guitar) - unlike many of his contemporaries who are content to remain in one style, Gordy has fervently pursued guitar knowledge in nearly all genres. Based in Brooklyn, NY, Grant has spent many hours learning the language of bebop and the standards of jazz, soaking up the high lonesome sound of bluegrass, investigating classical composers like Béla Bartók and Bach and learning the rhythms of Mali alongside African musicians. This wide range contributes to Gordy's unique and renowned guitar style. He spent six years in the David Grisman Quintet, filling the big shoes of Tony Rice, Mark O'Connor and other legendary musicians. Grisman says Grant "belongs to the new elite of American acoustic practitioners who are pushing the ever-expanding envelope of a musical frontier."

Ben Somers (double bass/vocals/saxophone) grew up surrounded by music and playing gigs with his father, professional country musician Steve Somers. Ben began playing the sax at 16 and studied jazz at Middlesex University. Whilst there, he acquired a double bass and immersed himself in bluegrass and folk. In recent years Ben has sung and played with top class UK bluegrass bands including The Absentees and the Wagon Tales, in addition to his day job as a busy, in-demand session musician in London. He has toured and recorded with many artists of various genres, including Dr John, Seal, Bruce Molsky, Dirk Powell, Taylor Swift, Mike Marshall and Russ Barenberg.

Joe K Walsh (mandolin/vocals) - hailing from Portland, Maine, the "other" Joe Walsh is known for his exceptional tone and taste. Named by CBC as "one of the best mandolinists of his generation", he has collaborated with acoustic music luminaries including legendary fiddler Darol Anger, pop/bluegrass darlings Joy Kills Sorrow, banjo supremo Béla Fleck and the celebrated Emmylou Harris. After a number of years with bluegrass supergroup the Gibson Brothers, Joe currently splits his time between the group Mr Sun (with Grant Gordy, Darol Anger & Ethan Jodziewicz) and a trio with Brittany Haas and Owen Marshall. As well as teaching regularly at music camps across America, he's also a mandolin instructor at the Berklee College of Music.

More info here:
http://www.grantgordy.com/
http://skinnyelephantmusic.com/
http://www.ben-somers.com/