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Cyrus Clarke- Folk music may slip in and out of fashion, but the passion and purity remain true. For Cyrus Clarke, who has been playing various strains of American music for over twenty five years, the folk urge never left. A dedicated songsmith, Clarke also has written a satchel of tunes, many of which have been recorded by artists such as Kate Wolf, the Acousticats, the Cache Valley Drifters, David West, and the Phil Salazar Band. The story continues as Clarke hones his craft and expands the songbook, singing and playing as he goes. A founding member of critically acclaimed groups such as the Cache Valley Drifters and the Acousticats, Clarke's history illustrates a long interest in creating new sounds. His newest project, the Cyrus Clarke Band, is initialed with a contemporary approach to an always changing suburban folk scene. Comprised of acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, bass, and percussion, this ensemble provides a modern context for traditional form. Their first Ranch Records release, "Sunrise On The Radio" prompted critic Steve Libowitz to note, "The group more than does justice to Clarke's material, which, true to his sensibilities, traverses a path between Kate Wolf's sweet melodies and the more hard driving, twanging, country associated with Merle Haggard, another of his heroes." Tom Corbett- Mandolinist Tom Corbett's credentials read like a
who's who of acousticana in Southern California. He has made serious waves in
the pond as the mandolin man for the Acousticats as Tom Lackner- Drummer and percussionist Tom Lackner has been active in a wide variety of musical contexts for nearly three decades. He has performed and recorded with diverse artists such as Eddie Harris, Laurindo Almeida, Kate Wolf, Flora Purim and Airto, as well as bluesmen Charlie Musselwhite and Jimmy Witherspoon. Recent projects have produced generous collaborations with Toad The Wet Sprocketeer, Glenn Phillips and writer Josef Woodard. Tom's sense of grace and style place him solidly at the foundation of Cyrus' groove oriented approach. Gary Sangenitto- Bass player Gary Sangenitto blames the Beatles for his interest in music. In 1964, Gary's grandparents took him to San Francisco for their first stateside concert and he's been a player ever since. In addition to being a founding member of the Cyrus Clarke Band, Sangenitto also has played in Little Jonny and the Giants and just about every band in Santa Barbara since 1972. His extensive knowledge of American roots and engaging musical patois create a perfect partnership with Clarke's vision of the California folk legacy. Barney Tower- Telecaster man Barney Tower is a master in the art of strum and twang. He is the latest installment in a long line of twanging tele-kings emanating from California. Both Clarke and Tower have been mesmerized by the Bakersfield sound, the Grateful Dead, and the sweet, bitter tunes of Gram Parsons, Merle Haggard, and Bob Dylan. On their first recorded collaboration, the timbre of twang highlights Clarke's compositions, blending naturally with the high, lonesome sound of Tom Corbett's mandolin. |
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as John McEuen's String Wizards. When the 'Cats retired in 1995, Clarke tagged
Corbett as one of the architects of his new sound; original acoustic music featuring
textures created by guitar, mandolin, and telecaster. Tom's sweet sound is time
tested and true, contributing blazing solos and tasty tremelos to Clarke's recipe.