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FIDDLE & VOCALS
Melissa Bragdon hails from Windham, Maine and has been playing the violin since the age of nine. Classically trained, Melissa went on to study music education at the University of Maine at Orono. While in college, Melissa became interested in the fiddling styles of celtic music. She met guitar player Matt Shipman and started playing gigs as a duet in Splittin’ Hairs. Soon after moving to Portland, she became acquainted with Jerks of Grass and has been a part of the band since 2006. Melissa teaches (along with Carter and Jason) at 317 Main St. Community Music Center in Yarmouth where she spends her days surrounded by talented musicians and great people.
Melissa enjoys riding her bike and skiing fast. |
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UPRIGHT & ELECTRIC BASS, GUITAR & VOCALS
Bassist Kris Day joined Jerks of Grass in September of 2006. Most well known as the bassist for Portland rock bands like Harpswell Sound and his 17 year association with King Memphis. Kris has done a considerable amount of touring over the years including performances with rock and roll legends Link Wray, Dale Hawkins, Ronnie Dawson and Joe Clay. Kris enjoys his private teaching career in addition to recording with local artists and doing some session work around town. Kris also keeps playing with the Gypsy Jazz Quartet Hot Club of Portland.
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5-STRING BANJO, DOBRO, GUITAR & VOCALS
Carter has been a member of Jerks of Grass since the band first formed over ten years ago. He is a veteran of the acoustic music scene in New England. When he's not busy teaching music, performing or practicing, he enjoys spending time with his wife Robin and daughter Sarah (she`s a pretty good fiddler too!) |
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GUITAR, MANDOLIN & VOCALS
Jason started playing guitar at the age of 11 and never stopped. When he first discovered bluegrass music in the late nineties, it was a steady diet of Bill Monroe & The Stanley Brothers. Not hearing any guitar solos on a Monroe record and wanting to be a soloist, he bought a mandolin and banjo and started to practice. Later that year after seeing Kenny Smith for the first time (then guitarist for the Lonesome River Band) - he realized how much fun a bluegrass guitar player can have! Lately the mandolin & mandola have been getting a lot of play time.
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Early 70's elDEGAS
"Butter" Bass
Used on Big Country
$100 Bass - Million dollar tone! |
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1966 FENDER PRECISION BASS
Played on Stomping Grounds and Come On Home |
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1999 ROBERT BEACHAM VIOLIN
made in Farmington, Maine
Many, many bow rehairs by Robert Miller
Melissa uses Thomastik Dominant strings except for a Pirastro E String |
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1995 CONLEY D-41
Built by luthier Scott Conley Bowdoinham, Maine
Martin SP Phosphor Bronze Medium Strings
2004 LUDEWIG F5
By luthier Dale Ludewig DeKalb, Illinois
Gibson Sam Bush Monel Mandolin Strings |
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GIBSON RB-4
5-String Banjo
GHS Strings
Sammy Shelor Fingerpicks
Golden Gate Thumbpicks |
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WECHTER/SCHEERHORN
Resophonic Guitar |
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MARTIN M-38 |
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WEGEN M200 "Smiley"
Wegen picks have three diferent points and as all pickers know, consistency is important. So to make sure I used the right point, my buddy Smiley was there to help - he was very supportive duing the recording of Tom Bombadil! |
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