Blue Roses

An award-winning quartet based in Roanoke/Blacksburg, Virginia, No Strings Attached actually features hundreds of strings playing music described as 'eclectic, jazz on acoustic instruments and world beat.' Much like Clark Kent appears ordinary for the most part, only to become Superman after visiting a convenient phone booth, No Strings is superficially a traditional string band focusing on instrumental arrangements, but they consistently stretch the boundaries of string music beyond traditional concepts. The Washington Post accurately described them as 'one of the more adventurous string ensembles today.' While their recordings feature traditional acoustic music, they also incorporate material by Dave Brubeck, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, the Chieftains, and Bill Spence, as well as their own originals. The eclectic brand of music they play and their exciting stage personae--think Cirque du Soleil and you're close--has allowed them to open for such artists as Mary Wilson and the Supremes, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Doc Watson, Turtle Island String Quartet, John Hartford, and John McCutcheon. They have played in European venues such as FolkClub Zuriche (Switzerland), Cardiff Harbor Festival (Wales), Pontardawe Festival (Wales), Cork Midsummer Festival (Ireland) and in U.S. venues ranging from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and CBS TV's Morning News program to major festivals such as the Pacific Rim International Music Festival in Los Angeles, California. They wrote and performed the theme song for the PRI radio show World Cafe. On stage, they typically dance the tango with their instruments, parody old rock and roll bands, clog while playing old-time tunes, and sometimes use the slinky (yes, the old toy) as a percussion instrument. The band members don't cite strong folk music influences. Bassist Bob Thomas comes from the jazz, rock, and bluegrass worlds and is one of the vocalists in the group. He takes his role as 'bassist' to heart, playing acoustic bass, bass clarinet, and bass saxophone, with the goal of 'owning a bass instrument from every instrument family.' Wes Chappell is the other vocalist and the multi-instrumentalist of the group. His background is rock and roll, but he plays in a variety of styles. Harmonica player Pete Hastings has become well known for his virtuosity on the chromatic and diatonic harmonicas, having studied under harmonica master Howard Levy for a number of years. Hastings also doubles as the group's guitarist. Randy Marchany, who plays the hammer dulcimer and keyboards, was trained as a classical pianist. So, given their varied backgrounds, perhaps the band's selection of material isn't all that unusual. This variety of styles is one of the cornerstones of their appeal. Source: MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide Band Members Pete Hastings, guitar, harmonica (1978-present) Bob Thomas, bass, bass clarinet, bass saxophone (1984-present) Wes Chappell, hammer dulcimer, mandolin, mandola, guitar, pennywhistle, percussion (1978-present) Randy Marchany, hammer dulcimer, synthesizer, piano, percussion (1980-present) Suzy Gorsline (1980-87)