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Jericho Bridge
Jericho Bridge is a Baltimore area bluegrass band that mixes traditional, contemporary and original songs & instrumentals. Influences as diverse as Bill Monroe, Thelonius Monk, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Tom Waits and many others have helped shape our musical choices. We're as comfortable with Blue Ridge Mountain Home as we are with Blue Monk. We appear regularly in the Baltimore area at many venues specializing in fine acoustic music. Close your eyes and think of eclectic musical choices coupled with tight vocal arrangements and skillful musicianship. You'll be pleased when you hear it first-hand. Come on out! To see where we're playing and when, be sure to visit the Schedule page. Listen to some of our songs and tunes on the Music page. Please Email us any inquiries regarding availability for performances--we'd love to hear from you!
Tom
Beers (mandolin,
guitar, vocals, hammered dulcimer) has been playing acoustic music in the
Baltimore-Washington area for more than 20 years. Most notorious among the
groups he played in was a band called Frontier Justice, a progressive bluegrass
band with swing, blues, jazz, and dawg influence. For about 11 years Frontier
Justice played in local clubs, concerts and other venues. Eventually, job
transfers caused the band's demise. Tom joined Jericho Bridge after a long
hiatus from playing any organized music. Tom sings and skillfully plays mandolin
in the group and has a strong guitar background as well as doing occasional
turns on the hammered dulcimer.
. .
John
Alexander
(vocals, fiddle and guitar), has been playing guitar since age 12. He realized after
stints in rock 'n roll bands that he was headed toward deafness and a bad liver.
Not that that's a BAD thing... His earplugs came out and he and heard the
driving sound of bluegrass by Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs and others.
Flat-top guitar innovators like Dan Crary, Tony Rice, Norman Blake and Doc
Watson interpreted fiddle tunes, making John realize the guitar need not be
bound for only rhythm work. John's fiddling yields surprises with every break he
plays in a style that's equal parts power and finesse. His first-rate
musicianship and powerful, resonating vocals help give the band its signature
sound quality. Bluegrass songs are John's favorites, though he also enjoys
writing original tunes. These run from traditional-sounding bluegrass material
to ballads and lovely lilting waltzes. Lyrics span everything between serious
and insightful to playfully humorous. He is also quite fond of integrating music
from other genres into bluegrass timing and arrangements.
Tom
Lather (banjo, vocals), resides
in peaceful and adequately planned, Columbia, Maryland and has performed for
years with several of the Baltimore-Washington area's bluegrass and old-time
music groups. Tom possesses an excellent tenor voice and sings both leads and
harmonies in Jericho Bridge. His snappy, fluid banjo style provides the drive
for that signature bluegrass sound. Tom also plays old-time fiddle and banjo.
His many interests include historical re-enactment (he's a re-enactionary, you
could say), and outdoor activities such as camping and kayaking. Tom is the
newest member of Jericho Bridge, having joined the band in March of
2005.
. .
Brian Pelisek (acoustic bass, rhythm guitar) first picked up the guitar in 1980 and eventually joined friends in the time-honored "basement rock & roll band". However, unlike others, Brian continued on and studied classical guitar with the Baltimore Classical Guitar Society, spending three years studying under Mike Kirkpatrick. Brian has made the transition from electric bass to acoustic upright bass musician with an amazing naturalness. He has also studied the upright bass with Ashton Fletcher with a strong emphasis on jazz and jazz improvisation. While Brian's favorite style lies somewhere between jazz and bluegrass, his exceptional bass lines provide a rock-solid foundation for the band's sound.
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