Sonny Landreth (from Wikipedia)

David Lindley (from www.davidlindley.com)
Multi-instrumentalist David Lindley performs music that redefines the word "eclectic." Lindley, well known for his many years as the featured accompanist with Jackson Browne, and leader of his own band El Rayo-X, has long championed the concept of world music. The David Lindley electro-acoustic performance effortlessly combines American folk, blues, and bluegrass traditions with elements from African, Arabic, Asian, Celtic, Malagasy, and Turkish musical sources. Lindley incorporates an incredible array of stringed instruments including but not limited to Kona and Weissenborn Hawaiian lap steel guitar, Turkish saz and chumbus, Middle Eastern oud, and Irish bouzouki. The eye-poppingly clad "Mr. Dave's" uncanny vocal mimicry and demented sense of humor make his onstage banter a highlight of the show.

November 1, 2008 @ 7 PM
The Culture of Slide with Ravikiran

Ravikiran's fascination for the rare and beautiful slide-instrument, chitravina, began at the age of two. It was the chosen medium of expression for his grandfather and father.  Against the background of his earlier musical accomplishments, Ravikiran was soon able to paint his musical ideas on the chitravina.

His debut performance was in 1979, at age 12.  Today, he is recognised as one of the most eminent instrumentalists in the world, and has performed at prominent venues like the Theatre de la Ville (Paris), Vienna Palace (Austria), Tate Modern Gallery (London), National Theatre (Australia), Institute of World Music (New York), Oji Hall (Japan), Esplanade (Singapore), Sadler's Wells (London) and at events such as The Millennium Festival, World Circuit Arts Festival (UK), International Music Festival (France), Brisbane International Festival (Australia), Radio Koln Festival (Germany), Harborfront Festival, Treasures of India Festival (Canada), Festivals of India (France, Germany and Switzerland), and the Cleveland Tyagaraja Festival (USA).

Ravikiran has expanded the horizons of the chitravina by introducing several measures that have positively impacted the world of slide-instruments.  For instance, his adoption of teflon slide (as opposed to ebony, bison horn, glass or steel) has improved the purity of the instrument's sound and has inspired others to do the same.  He has worked on what he calls "faithful amplifying techniques," whereby he has made it possible for the microtonal nuances of the normally soft chitravina to be heard by large audiences while retaining its original tone to a large extent.

Ravikiran has also performed on the electric slide-guitar (Hawaiian guitar) but has found it inadequate to express all his musical ideas.  This resulted in the design of the navachitravina, a sleek 20-stringed slide-instrument that also gives him flexibility in pitch, apart from a sharper tone.

January 10, 2009 - 7 PM
Bob Brozman: World of Slide Guitar and Rhythm

Redefining musical diversity worldwide, Bob Brozman is a remarkably prolific artist whose wit, energy, and musical technique combine powerfully to create an unforgettable live performance. A master of slide, fingerstyle, and percussive guitar, Bob's exhilarating show spans the global and musical spectrum, and keeps audiences enthralled, begging for more of his endearing, infectious energy.

Bob's familiarity with diverse world music cultures produces a novel blending of rhythmic and timbral influences, unparalleled in today's musical environment. His rhythmic dexterity resonates with elements of blues, jazz, Gypsy swing, calypso, sega, and even the most modern hip-hop and ska beats.

Likewise, his chords and harmonies articulate an acute blend of timbres from Hawaiian, Indian, African, Japanese/Okinawan, Caribbean, and American roots blues. His fingerwork has been described in world press as uniquely staggering, yet full of humor. Bob has a collection of hand-tricks that make audiences look for electronic effects that in fact don't exist: his show is the clean product of acoustic genius.

Bob's disarming talent for humor and rapport invariably adds spice to his already well-seasoned repertoire of music. A lifelong study of ethnomusicology and the global migration of musical styles ensures Bob's committed attention and respect to each of the cultures in his repertoire. He casually shares historical facts with his audiences, and charms them with his ability to integrate local languages into his show: over the years, Bob has taught himself useful phrases in over 30 languages, which he regularly uses both on stage and off.

February 7, 2009 - 7 PM
That Country Sound with Cindy Cashdollar & Redd Volkaert

Austin-based Dobro and steel guitarist Cindy Cashdollar's career has taken some surprising twists and turns that have led her to to work with many of the leading artists in contemporary music including Rod Stewart, Van Morrison, Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan, Asleep at the Wheel, Garrison Keillor, Marcia Ball, Jorma Kaukonen, Leon Redbone, BeauSoleil, Daniel Lanois, and Redd Volkaert. Cindy's unerring ability to complement a song or step out with a tasteful, imaginative, and exciting solo - and to do it in so many musical genres - has made her one of the most in-demand musicians on the American roots music scene.

Cindy first heard the unique sliding sound of the Dobro in her hometown of Woodstock, New York where she honed her skills playing with bluegrass legend John Herald, blues great Paul Butterfield, Levon Helm and Rick Danko of The Band, and many others who lived in the small but musically hip Catskill mountain town. Eight years and thousands of miles on the road with the premier western swing group Asleep At The Wheel helped her introduce the classic sounds of the non-pedal steel to enthusiastic audiences worldwide, and brought her five Grammy Awards and opportunities to work with musicians of the caliber of Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton and The Dixie Chicks.

Whether adding driving leads behind Rod Stewart or alt. rocker Ryan Adams, swinging an instrumental with Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion band, or trading blazing licks with Texas Telecaster master Redd Volkaert, Cindy does it all with grace, imagination, and taste. And, in answer to her most frequently asked question, yes, Cashdollar is a real name. 

Redd Volkaert

A local Austin legend and revered by guitarists all over the world, Redd Volkaert is one of the hardest working axe men on the planet.  Not only has he released several solo albums over the years, but Volkaert is a current member of two other Austin-based groups, Heybale! and The Lucky Tomblin Band, as well as a valued hired-gun for sessions and touring work with such artists as Brad Paisley, whose work with the country star garnered Redd a GRAMMY© nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance in 2004.  Redd’s guitar can be heard again on a Brad Paisley album "Mud on the Tires."

Born and raised in Canada, Redd started early, at the age of ten; and by the time he was 16, he was playing in local bars and clubs in Vancouver, British Columbia. After 8 years in Alberta, he moved to Los Angeles, playing in clubs, teaching and working on demo sessions. In 1990, he moved to Nashville and started working road dates and studio sessions with Ray Price, Lacy J. Dalton, Clinton Gregory and Dale Watson, eventually working his way to Merle Haggard’s band, The Strangers. In 1997, Merle Haggard found himself in need of a lead guitarist. Haggard said, “I usually listen to the guys in the band. I asked them who was the best guitarist they knew, and they all said Redd.” He took Redd without an audition. After becoming a “Stranger,” Redd recorded and toured with Merle, appearing in concert and on national television.

Cindy Cashdollar

Red Volkaert

March 7, 2009 - 7 PM
"Eccentric Blues" featuring
Freddie Roulette, Henry Kaiser & Friends

Witness how the blues can slide with special guests Freddie Roulette, Henry Kaiser and friends in this one-of-a-kind, blues-flavored event with one of the most well-known blues slide guitarists around.

Freddie Roulette
Freddie Roulette, a legendary blues figure from the Chicago scene, has played with many blues giants, including: Charlie Musselwhite, Coleman Head, Lonnie Castille and Victor Conte and Earl Hooker.  He is considered to be one of the few, true blues slide players alive today.

As Dorothy Hill reports: "He has been dubbed as the most amazing lap steel guitarist in the world for good reason. His gentle demeanor obviously conceals a profound imagination that is revealed the minute he touches his ceramic slide to the strings. Born in Evanston, Illinois, Roulette has been in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1969. Prior to that time he was associated with Earl Hooker for many years in an alliance which began when a teenaged Roulette met up with Hooker in Chicago where they went slide to slide.

When Roulette is on stage his presence is infinite. His genius on lap steel guitar is incalculable and one would hope that recognition and fame would follow. But, it’s the blues, baby!"
- From this article at Bluesartstudio.com

Freddie Roulette (photo courtesy Dorothy L. Hill and bluesartstudio.com)

 Henry Kaiser