On October 15, 2016, in Bristol, TN, the Kruger Brothers trio will perform the worldwide premiere of an original work, commissioned to celebrate the magnificence of Roan Mountain. The Kruger Brothers will be joined by The Kontras String Quartet for this very special performance at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol, TN.
The performance coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the inaugural meeting to conserve the Roan Mountain Massif, an effort initiated by the late Stanley A. Murray, husband of patron, Judy Murray, of Kingsport, TN, and is dedicated to his memory.
ABOUT STAN MURRAY & ROAN MOUNTAIN
Straddling the border of TN and NC, the Roan Mountain Massif rises high above the farms and villages of the valley below. Often referred to as the “Crown Jewel” of the Southern Appalachians, these 25,000 acres of ancient mountain peaks and ridges are renowned for their magnificent beauty and extraordinary ecological diversity. The Appalachian Trail runs along the crest for more than 20 miles. In 1966, then-Chairman of the Appalachian Trail Conference, Stan Murray, convened a small group of people in Johnson City, TN, to initiate planning for the conservation of the Roan Mountain Massif. The seed sown at that meeting was to become the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy which has now conserved 70,000 mountain acres in TN and NC. The Highlands of Roan remains its flagship project. Through his leadership, and the ongoing dedication of countless volunteers, Stan was to steer the Appalachian Trail—and the Highlands of Roan—into protection in perpetuity.
ABOUT THE KRUGER BROTHERS
“Roan can be perceived in many ways through all of our senses. Countless beautiful words have been written about it, and glorious photographs have been taken, but I've always felt that Roan needed a wonderful piece of music to pay tribute to its majesty,” Murray says. “When I heard the Kruger Brothers and works that Jens Kruger had composed, I knew I'd found my composer and my musicians. Jens is able to capture the essence of a landscape and translate it into music.”
Originally from Switzerland, Jens Kruger began playing North American folk music at an early age and was particularly inspired by recordings of Doc Watson, Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe, and other progenitors of country, bluegrass and folk music. He writes the music for all of The Kruger Brothers’ original tunes, collaborating with brother, Uwe Kruger, for insightful and stirring lyrics that complement the music. Jens has received four commissions to write classical pieces which The Kruger Brothers have performed with various orchestral ensembles: Appalachian Concerto, Spirit of the Rockies, Lucid Dreamer, and now, the Roan Mountain Suite.
Known for his innovative banjo composition and performance, Jens Kruger was awarded the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass Music in 2013 and was inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame in 2011. He is currently nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Banjo Player of the Year Award for 2016.
The trio is known for inventive compositions and performances that defy categorization. Their music is at once thoughtful and lyrical, and then virtuosic and complex. The experience is always profound.
"Roan Mountain resonates in a deep and personal way with all those who visit it, and by the same token, the Kruger Brothers' music reaches into the hearts and souls of its listeners in profound and stirring ways." ~ Judy Murray
LIVE CONCERT PERFORMANCE
The Roan Mountain Suite
The Kruger Brothers with The Kontras Quartet
Saturday, October 15th ~ 7:30 p.m.
Paramount Center for the Arts
518 State Street, Bristol, TN 37620
www.paramountbristol.org
BOX OFFICE: 423-274-8920
Concert Only, Reserved Seating: $30
Concert, Preferred Seating, plus Gala Anniversary Reception: $50