The Jon Rubin Group is as an acoustic string trio with Jon on guitar, Chris Will on bass, and special guest soloists Deanna Lynn on viola or Cal Keaoola on violin. The group’s genesis began in 2007 when Chris and Jon connected via online musicians post, ‘Jorma seeks Jack’ (a reference to the Hot Tuna acoustic blues sound with its trademark tight interplay between fingerpicked guitar and bass). A year later Jon met a young, award-winning classical violist improvising fiddle lines in a bluegrass jam group in Monterey; and then a Grammy-credentialed classical/jazz violinist in SF. Since spring 2009 the group, with this basic lineup, have appeared regularly from the Central Coast to San Francisco, playing an original acoustic fusion sound combining folk, rock, blues, celtic, bluegrass, jazz and classical influences. The group blends improvisational virtuoso playing with real passion for the musical tradition and stories of their songs.
Jon Rubin was inspired to play acoustic guitar by Jorma Kaukonen, a disciple of the Reverand Gary Davis school of fingerpicking country gospel blues. Jon applies these rhythmic underpinnings to an eclectic mix of mostly traditional songs in the Americana/roots and British folk traditions. Jon has studied and attended workshops with legendary fingerstyle players Martin Simpson, Woody Mann, Duck Baker, Rick Ruskin, Laurence Juber and Bob Brozman.
Deanna Lynn is a student at Monterey Peninsula College and plays in the MPC orchestra. In 2006 and 2008 she performed in the Carmel Bach Festival's Youth Artist Concert, and in 2007 she won Youth Music Monterey's concerto competition. Deanna appears as featured guest soloist, poet violist and provides vocal harmonies in The Jon Rubin Group.
Chris Will plays 6-string and 4-string fretless bass. He has gigged extensively up and down the West Coast, in engagements ranging from support of acoustic singer songwriters to full electric free jazz ensembles, and as bandleader of his own projects. Versatile in many styles from jazz and blues to rock and funk, and drawing influences from classical, ambient and world music, Chris embraces improvisation while holding down the bottom end.
Cal Keaoola is a native of Hawaii, a fiddling violinist well versed in all styles from folk to blues to jazz to latin. In 2001, he completed a US Rodeo Circuit Tour with Pearl River Country Band, and Country Music Hall of Fame’s Patrick Haggerty. He is featured on three Hawaiian Grammy Award winning albums of the early 2000’s; and has performed with legendary rock band, It’s a Beautiful Day; Bill Keith of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass band; Scotland’s, Alasdair Fraser; Hawaii’s Don Ho; and Bobby Black & John Ely of Asleep at the Wheel. Occasionally, you’ll find him playing with Oriente Salsa Band, The Billy Boys (country), and The Keaoola Jazz Ensemble. As former faculty and Artist-in-Residence of the esteemed NC School of the Arts and Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC; Cal continues to teach/coach students in classical/jazz violin, and folk/bluegrass fiddling in the Bay Area. Cal appears as guest soloist with The Jon Rubin Group at San Francisco area performances. |
