An Evening with:
DEADGRASS

Multi-instrumentalist Matt Turk and Grammy award winner C Lanzbom joined forces to form Deadgrass, a string band adventure through Jerry Garcia’s musical world. Bassist Dave Richards, banjo player Russell Gottlieb and fiddler Kensuke Shoji complete this fine group of seasoned pros exploring the life works of Jerry Garcia on the instruments that first inspired him. Deadgrass celebrates and interprets the music of Jerry Garcia, drawing from Old & in the Way, JGB, Jerry’s Jug Band days and The Grateful Dead.

Web music authority All Music Guide, calls Matt Turk “an artist to be reckoned with.” Matt is a seasoned recording artist and multi-instrumentalist. Based out of Hastings-on- Hudson, New York, Turk is a veteran performer. He has performed and recorded with Pete Seeger, opened for Judy Collins, The Doobie Brothers, Fiona Apple and the Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart. He has performed throughout the USA and Europe appearing at the Clearwater Festival, Gathering of the Vibes, Atlanta's Music Midtown, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Beacon Theatre and The Capitol Theatre. Matt has recorded for Warner Bros Records with Gaby Moreno & Matter Music.

Grammy award winner C Lanzbom is a touring and studio guitarist with producing, performing, writing and engineering credits with Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, American Idol finalist Crystal Bowersox, Shlomo Carlebach and Soulfarm. C's studio, Sherwood Ridge, is a state of the art recording facility just north of New York City. C has numerous television and film song placements. His affection and passion for Jerry Garcia's music has been a major influence. He has absorbed Israeli-Arabic musical rhythms from travelling in the region as well as the rock and roll he grew up with along the Jersey shore.

Bassist Dave Richards performs in Hamilton on Broadway and has recorded and performed with The Indigo Girls, Rosanne Cash, Buster Poindexter, Madeline Peyroux, Jewel and Richie Havens. He has toured throughout Europe, Canada and the USA, appearing at Ottawa Jazz, Toronto Blues festival, The Hollywood Bowl and Austin City Limits. At the age of 17 Dave was playing jazz five nights a week in Orlando, Florida with Billy Peebles, the drummer for Ray Charles on many classic Atlantic recordings. Dave lives with his wife, singer-songwriter, Jane Kelly Williams and daughter in Northern New Jersey.

Banjo player Russell Gottlieb brings a wistful and propulsive sound to the banjo by drawing on influences ranging from rock to jazz and bluegrass to minimalism. Russell has toured extensively in the USA as a founding member of the New Jersey based band The Brummy Brothers, appearing at the Gathering of the Vibes, Catskill Chill, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Brooklyn Bowl, Nectar's, and World Cafe Live, opening for Melvin Seals and JGB, Leftover Salmon, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams.

Jazz violinist Kensuke Shoji was born in Gifu, Japan. He began playing violin at seven years old learning the Suzuki Method. Kensuke joined his father's bluegrass band as a teenager. As a young adult, Shoji moved to the U.S.A. to study jazz violin with Berklee String Department chair Matt Glaser, and world renowned violinist Christian Howes.

Dedicated to improvisation, Kensuke moved to New York City in 2013 to play with Alex Hargreaves, Barry Harris, Jacob Jolliff, Maria Muldaur and more.