“A world class mandolinist” -Mandolin Magazine

“A fabulous ‘seminar’ on quietly building drama” -Guitar Player Magazine

Saturday, September 17th

Community Music Center

3350 SE Francis St

Portland OR 97202

Doors at 6:30 Show at 7pm

$15 cash or check or charge at door.

Or in advance at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tim-connell-and-eric-skye-album-release-concert-tickets-26312578631

With June Apple, mandolinist Tim Connell and guitarist Eric Skye present a captivating new album of traditional fiddle tunes in a very intimate and uncluttered duo setting. It’s a sincere offering from two seemingly very unlikely new voices in the genre. Mandolinist Tim Connell is a widely known recording and touring artist in both the Brazilian choro and the swing music worlds, guitarist Eric Skye is nationally established as a fingerstyle guitarist and jazz recording artist. So what gives?

“Skye says, I’ve been a closeted flatpicker and bluegrass fan since first hearing the Tone Poems album by David Grisman and Tony Rice on public radio twenty years ago. I have loved and deeply respected this music ever since. I got the idea to produce this album a few years back, and knew right way that I wanted to feature Tim Connell. While I knew that Tim could play absolutely anything, I was particularly intrigued by the idea having someone that didn’t necessarily grow up playing this music, knowing that would bake some fresh perspective into the cake. I also knew that Tim is very respectful of tradition in all music, and would at the same time be sensitive to authenticity. We spent a few months going back-and-forth about what tunes to tackle, and even wrote a couple of our own. Then on a cold frosty morning in December, we went into an old red barn that had been converted into a studio just outside of Portland, Oregon, where we both are based. I prefer a very simple recording process of each instrument with one vintage microphone in front of it, going live to two-inch analog tape. Just sitting across from each other, playing, listening, reacting… it’s really just about trying to capture that conversation.”

A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, Tim Connell has created a sophisticated and original global mandolin style. Regarded as one of the top American interpreters of Brazilian choro, Tim has also developed his own unique voice for the instrument, described in a recent Mandolin Magazine cover story as “fiery and energetic, soulful and evocative.”

Tim regularly tours Europe and America in the international mandolin super-group The Ger Mandolin Orchestra led by Mike Marshall. He has been a featured guest at national conventions of the Classical Mandolin Society of America, and is on staff at the prestigious Mandolin Symposium founded by David Grisman. Tim has performed with a roster of great mandolinists, including David Grisman, Mike Marshall, Don Stiernberg,

Rich Del Grosso and Don Julin. Tim tours with several of Brazil’s greatest seven-string guitarists, his own swing quartet Stumptown Swing, and Americana rockers the Old Yellers.

Most often billed as a jazz guitarist, Eric Skye actually occupies a unique niche, exploring areas between Americana, jazz, and blues, all threaded together with a healthy respect for groove and unadulterated acoustic tone. Skye’s release, A Different Kind Of Blue -a solo guitar re-imagining of the Miles Davis’ iconic Kind Of Blue- was acknowledged by the Davis family and named in Acoustic Guitar magazine’s top ten albums of 2012. His recent 2015 release Artifact with longtime Jackson Browne guitarist Mark Goldenberg was also critically acclaimed.

Eric Skye has been featured in magazines such as Guitar Player, Fretboard Journal, Acoustic Guitar, Jazziz, Premier Guitar, Guitar World, Jazz Improv, 20th Century Guitar, Acoustic (UK), Akustik Gitarree (Germany), and was recently on cover of Acoustic Guitar magazine in China. Skye has performed on live morning television for NBC and FOX, and has been featured on both NPR and PRI. In 2011 Eric Skye was bestowed the rare honor of having the renowned Santa Cruz Guitar Company release a signature model guitar, the 00-skye.