Grant Gordy, Ben Krakauer & Chris Coyle play HTOH

Grant Gordy comes to Honky Tonk on Hazel backed by two of Philadelphia's own, Ben Krakauer & Chris Coyle.

Grant Gordy (guitar) and Ben Krakauer (banjo) are both leading instrumentalists in today’s bluegrass and modern string-band circles. Both alumni of David Grisman’s bands, they play with a host of unique groups and artists. They’re joined by bassist Chris Coyle, who brings jazz and experimental music to the string-band tradition. They’ll play adventurous traditional tunes, arrangements and originals.

• Doors at 7:30, show at 8

• Suggested donation $20 – $40

• Exact address emailed to you once you RSVP

WATCH GRANT GORDY ON YOUTUBE:

https://youtu.be/vyIi0Uhysno?si=BTIcO4iXm5RRDMOV

-=ABOUT GRANT=-

For guitarist and composer Grant Gordy, joining mandolinist David Grisman’s groundbreaking bluegrass-jazz quintet was not a career culmination, but a launchpad. Since then, Gordy has developed a distinctive musical language that blends contemporary jazz harmony, bluegrass virtuosity, melodic lyricism, humor, and grit. His quartet album *Peripheral Visions* reunites him with mandolinist Dominick Leslie, violinist Alex Hargreaves, and bassist Aidan O’Donnell, whose intuitive interplay reflects years within the contemporary string-band community.

Gordy’s compositions feel familiar yet remain strikingly original, drawing on influences ranging from Tony Rice and Ron Miles to funky blues and Celtic melody. Pieces such as “To Ron,” “Elegy for Tony Rice,” “Espionage,” and “Mobius” reveal his range as both composer and guitarist. Expansive, witty, complex, and deeply expressive, Gordy’s music occupies the fertile space between bluegrass, jazz, and modern acoustic music, guided by an unusually perceptive and generous musical vision that continually finds fresh possibilities in traditional instrumentation.

-=ABOUT BEN=-

Ben Krakauer is a banjo player and composer rooted in bluegrass, jazz, and new acoustic music. They have toured with David Grisman, were a founding member of Old School Freight Train, and have recorded for Acoustic Disc, Adhyâropa Records, CMH Records, and the Fiddle Masters series. Their debut solo album, *Heart Lake*, features twelve original tunes performed with Duncan Wickel on fiddle and cello, Nick Falk on drums, and Dan Klingsberg on bass. Their 2023 follow-up album, *Hidden Animals*, features the same musicians, with the addition of Ella Jordan on fiddle. In addition to performing and composing, Ben Krakauer is an ethnomusicologist and serves as Assistant Professor of Music and Traditional Music Program Coordinator at Warren Wilson College.

=ABOUT CHRIS=-

Chris Coyle is a bassist and composer based in Philadelphia, PA. Chris has gained recognition as a versatile performer and creator through an endless quest of listening, learning, collaboration, and curation. He leads his own Jazz/Experimental ensembles: Phantasma Trio, Vaux Taux, and Outside Sound. He has shared the stage with some of Philadelphia’s most prominent Jazz musicians: John Swana, Behn Gillece, Doug Hirlinger, Matt Scarano, Joanna Pascale, V. Shayne Frederick, Orrin Evans, Duane Eubanks, and many others. And he is a member of the renowned group Relache Ensemble, an established force in contemporary music for 40+ years.