Jordan Shapiro - vocals, guitar
Dennis Lichtman - mandolin
Tim Kiah - vocals, bass
Alan Grubner - fiddle
Influences
The big 3 are Bill Monroe, Bela Fleck, and Frank Zappa. Also Tony Rice, Sam Bush, John Coltrane, David Grier, Edgar Meyer, Jerry Douglas, Bill Frisell, Stanley Brothers, John Hartford, Shel Silverstein, Ween, Danny Barnes, Dan Zanes, Cracker, Steve Earle, Darrell Scott, David Grisman, Tim O'Brien, Wilco, Tom Waits, Johnny Cash, Fairport Convention, Paul Brady, King Crimson and Bob Dylan.
"Astrograss lend stratospheric virtuosity to tunes ranging from Bill Monroe to Frank Zappa."
---Richard Gehr, The Village Voice (Dec. 22-28, 2004)
"They are Brooklyn's latest contribution to the indie scene--Astrograss.
Their music is sweet and sweeping and refreshingly void of irony."
---David Tamarkin, Time Out ('Essential New York' issue, Oct. 28-Nov. 4, 2004)
In its less-than-two-year existence, Astrograss has moved to the forefront of New York's lively acoustic music and bluegrass scene. The band's self-titled debut album, released in February 2005, showcases its unique sound: earthy, bluegrass-inspired yet decidedly un-twangy. Astrograss is equally passionate in its vocal harmonies and surging improvisations. In concert, Astrograss wows audiences with an eclectic yet solidly rooted mix of original material, choice covers ranging from Jimmy Webb to Guns n' Roses, and an occasional foot-stompin', "yee-haw"-inspiring fiddle hoedown.
Astrograss has performed in New York venues such as BB King's Blues Club, The Mercury Lounge, The Living Room and the Rodeo Bar, in addition to regular gigs at New York's home of bluegrass, the Parkside Lounge. In June 2004, the band undertook a tour of the Midwest, culminating with two sets at the highly esteemed Appalachian Uprising bluegrass festival in Ohio. 2005 found the band collaborating with ex-Zappa mallet player Ed Mann on various gigs, resulting in rich new sounds. Most recently, the band has begun a highly successful series of children's performances at various locations in Brooklyn. In early 2006, Astrograss released a kids album produced by Dan Zanes.
Astrograss was formed in the summer of 2003 when Jordan Shapiro recruited three top-tier New York-area musicians (Kiah, Grubner, and Lichtman) to play music he had been composing over the last few years. Collectively, the band members' resumes include performances and collaborations with Eddie Palmieri, Phish's Mike Gordon, the Key West Symphony Orchestra, Lenny Kravitz, Henry Threadgill, and Zappa vocalists Ike Willis and Napolean Murphy Brock.
Hello there fellows...I'm happy to find you hanging around this joint. Thanks for finding a little space in your Astronomical hearts for a yodeling banjo player. Most Sincerely Yours, Mr. Eller ----- Curtis Eller's American Circus www.curtiseller.com
