Five world-renowned acoustic masters spanning three generations join forces for this special, one-night-only Freight performance featuring original music as well as bluegrass and old-time favorites spotlighting the talents of each performer. Look for driving full-band pieces as well as solos, duets and trios from artists who represent the best in 21st century acoustic/bluegrass music.

Bill Evans (banjo) is well known to Freight audiences from hosting his annual California Banjo Extravaganza to Freight collaborations with David Bromberg, David Grisman, J. D. Crowe, Jody Stecher, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Dan Crary, Claire Lynch and many others. For this performance, Bill will spotlight the original compositions included on his chart-topping CDs Bill Evans Plays Banjo and In Good Company.

Here’s what folks are saying about Bill and his music:

“Bill Evans does for the five-string banjo what Van Gogh did for colour…treats it in a different way and then shares it with you. And his recent release In Good Company is a virtuoso master class in exploring bluegrass from the tradition to the far edges of alternative.” Tom Franks, FolkWords

“The banjoist has a world view shared by a precious few. It shows in the breadth of this own bluegrass playing and, especially, through his composing. Evans infuses his work with hints of jazz, classic and music of other realms, all fitting snuggly into his conception of the bluegrass sound.” –David Royko, The Chicago Tribune

John Reischman (mandolin) is one of the premier mandolinists of his generation. He’s a master instrumentalist capable of swinging between re-inventions of traditional old-time tunes and compelling original tunes, many of which have become standards. A Juno-nominated and Grammy-award winning artist, John is known today for his work with his band the Jaybirds and his acclaimed solo albums. However, his California musical roots run deep and he is well-remembered for his work with the Tony Rice Unit and the Bay Area’s Good Ol’ Persons. For this performance, John will spotlight original tunes from his projects Walk Along John, Up in the Woods and North of the Border.

“One of the true tone poets of American acoustic music…always placing the right note in the right place with the right tone and touch…throughout, Reischman’s full throated mandolin never overplays or forces a point on the listener. The music is open, inviting, and engaging on multiple levels at once, telling musical stories without words like the birds in the tall pine trees or the waves upon the dark and roiling sea.” Acoustic Guitar

Kenny Smith (guitar) Originally from Nine Mile, Indiana, Kenny is widely considered one of the most important and influential flatpicking-style guitarists of his generation. A two-time International Bluegrass Music Association Guitarist of the Year award winner, his professional credits include six years with the popular Lonesome River Band, an exceptional solo CD, Studebaker, released on Sugar Hill Records in 1997, and a solo guitar CD, Return, released on Gat3 Records in 2012. He tours internationally with the Kenny and Amanda Smith Band, winners of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s prestigious Emerging Artist of the Year award. “Master musicians can do as they please. He can take ‘Arkansas Traveler’ and, while leaving enough of the original in our ear to keep us from being lost completely, he twists, reharmonizes and deconstructs it into something fresh.” Bluegrass Unlimited

Nate Lee (fiddle and mandolin) is an IBMA award-winning instrumentalist and renowned teacher of private lessons and music camps. While attending the Bluegrass & Country Music Program at South Plains College, Nate joined the Alan Munde Gazette. He toured with the band for six years and played fiddle on their second release “Made To Last”. After moving to Nashville in 2012, Nate toured with Irene Kelley, Town Mountain, and the Jim Hurst Trio. Nate currently tours with the Becky Buller Band, playing mandolin and twin fiddle.

Max Schwartz (bass and banjo) is a Boston native who grew up in the Bay Area of CA playing in his family band. He studied jazz in high school, which led to him performing in the 2015 and 2016 Grammy Combos, which performed at the past two Grammy Awards. He has played gigs throughout Europe and Japan, and regularly performs with Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands. He'll be studying jazz at the University of Miami beginning in the fall of 2017.

visit the Bill Evans website

visit the John Reischman website

visit the Kenny and Amanda Smith website