Third Coast Bluegrass - Sugar Maple Concert Series

610 North Street,Madison WI 53704

12 January, 2023

Description

Third Coast Bluegrass (TCB) is a band of longtime friends and musical cohorts with deep roots in the Great Lakes bluegrass scene going back to the 70's. Since their debut in June 2021, they’ve built a sizable following and a reputation as one of the top Bluegrass bands in the Upper Midwest The lineup speaks (and picks and sings) for itself, in alphabetical order: Marc Edelstein – Bass & VocalsKen Finkel – Banjo & VocalsPeter Knupfer - FiddleDon Stiernberg – Mandolin & VocalsJerry Wicentowski – Lead Vocals and Guitar TCB’s repertoire spans bluegrass classics, hidden gems, originals, and adaptations from amazing songwriters. The band highlights Jerry’s “true to the tradition” vocals, seamless trios and masterful instrumentals. With world class soloists Don and Peter stepping out front on the instrumentals with rock solid banjo from Ken, it’s as powerful as it is tasteful. Marc’s bass and Jerry’s rhythm guitar lay down the essential rhythmic foundation. As Don says, “Back to the roots of the hard grass with admired colleagues who are also great friends. What could be better?” Marc Edelstein – Bass & Vocals Marc Edelstein (String Bass) was co-founder of the Special Consensus Bluegrass Band and has avidly promoted and performed in bluegrass, country, western swing, rockabilly, gypsy jazz, folk, and rock and roll projects. Performances include alternative country Robby Fulks’ band; the musical revue Women In My Life with singer-songwriters Bob Gibson and Michael Smith; Tribute to Woody Guthrie, with Josh White Jr., Odetta, Rambling Jack Elliott, and Oscar Brand; the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s country and western auxiliary The CSOakies; Chicago’s premier folk group, The Sons of the Never Wrong; Vassar Clements; David Bromberg; and numerous recording projects over the years. Marc made his theatrical debut as string bassist and singer in the “Jeff” award-winning “Woody Guthrie’s American Song” at the Northlight and Briar Street Theaters, performed in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” at the Goodman Theater in Chicago, and appeared in over 1,200 performances of “Million Dollar Quartet” at the Apollo Theater in Chicago. His stage piece “Lovesick Blues: Remembering Hank Williams” has had performances across the US. Ken Finkel – Banjo & Vocals Ken Finkel got involved in Bluegrass while at the University of Rochester (NY). Largely self-taught, he made his was to Cincinnati where he met Dede Wyland and Jim Price through mutual friends. During a gig in Chicago, they came down along with Peter Knupfer and Dan Crownover. Turned out they needed a full-time banjo player and Ken needed a band. Ken relocated to Milwaukee and together they formed Grass, Food and Lodging. In their five years together, they built a strong regional following and gained national recognition, appearing on the Prairie Home Companion and many prestigious festivals around the country. Following GF&L, Ken had his own booking agency, representing Bluegrass, Roots, Blues, Irish musicians and doing event booking and stage management - Summerfest, Bastille Days, etc. A long career in the software industry followed. The passion for Bluegrass and performance was reignited when GF&L had reunions in 2013 and 2015. Ken is thrilled to be playing with terrific friends & musicians of such high caliber as his TCB cohorts. Peter Knupfer – Fiddle Peter Knupfer is an award-winning fiddler with over thirty years of freelance and professional practice to his credit. In addition to touring and recording for five years with 'Grass, Food & Lodging, a Milwaukee-based bluegrass band, he worked for 11 years with Michigan’s Detour Bluegrass, a 2015 IBMA nominee for Emerging Artist, plus many years playing country, folk, and string swing in a variety of bands. He has shared the stage with the likes of Byron Berline, Donald Stiernberg, Tony Trischka, Peter Ostroushko, Joel Mabus, and Tim O'Brien. He was the state old-time fiddle champ for Wisconsin (1976) and Kansas (1995). Don Stiernberg – Mandolin & Vocals Don Stiernberg recently began his fifth decade as a working musician. Along the way he has been involved in many musical activities: performing, writing, recording, producing, and teaching, but is best known for his mandolin playing. Born and still based in Chicago, the mandolin found Don as he grew up “out in the woods” in the nearly-rural suburb of Wauconda, IL. A desire to make music with his banjo and guitar playing brother led Don to appropriate a mandolin that had been given to him. Things came into focus both mandolin and life-wise when his parents sent Don to study with Jethro Burns, famous comedian (Homer and Jethro) and the greatest mandolinist of his time. From the very first lesson, Burns was more than a teacher. He was role model, hero, mentor, and friend, and Stiernberg was hooked and hooked bad on the mandolin. His earliest professional experience was in a bluegrass band with his brother (The Morgan Bros.) and a bit later in The Jethro Burns Quartet. Currently Don is regarded as a leading exponent of jazz mandolin style, and a respected teacher. His CD "Straight Ahead" by The Don Stiernberg Quartet was listed in the Chicago Tribune as one of the best jazz recordings of 2020. Jerry Wicentowski – Lead Vocals & Guitar As a teenager growing up in New York City, Jerry was inspired to sing bluegrass music by the performances of first-generation artists. His high clear voice carries on the tradition of the pioneers in bluegrass, but he is far from a pale imitation or carbon copy of those early greats. Jerry's performances here have uniqueness, depth of feeling, and most important, respect and reverence for the music. He revisited the material of one of his early heroes in his most recent CD tribute to Mac Wiseman entitled 'Thanks, Mac!'. Mac himself praised Jerry’s work saying, “Jerry, I’m very flattered by your interpretation of my material and I think it’s a wonderful piece of work! I heartily endorse it, and I’m very pleased that you’re carrying on my legacy.” In October 2019, just prior to the pandemic, Jerry was thrilled to feature material from his recording on the stage of the Station Inn in Nashville.