Kruger Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Kruger Brothers is a trio of musicians who play new American folk music
, or music within the folk genre inclusive of new compositional and thematic elements. The trio consists of Jens Kruger (banjo, harmony vocals), Uwe Kruger (guitar, lead and harmony vocals) and Joel Landsberg (bass, harmony vocals). The group is acknowledged as one of the most innovative ensembles active in Americana music today.
, Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe
, and other progenitors of country
, bluegrass
and folk music
. Their first public performances were as a duo, busking on the streets of cities throughout eastern and western Europe. Later, after gaining a recording contract as well as a radio show on SRG SSR, the Swiss public broadcaster, they teamed up with bass player Joel Landsberg, inaugurating a trio that has been playing professionally together since 1995. Landsberg is an American citizen from New York, NY. The first recording project to include Landsberg was Behind the Barn, Vol. 2, which was released in 1997.
Today the group is highly regarded within the world of acoustic music in North America, in particular by those within the industry. They have also gained the attention of some of the musicians, including Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, Tut Taylor
, and Bobby Hicks
, that once served as models. Watson has said, "The Kruger Brothers are just about as fine a band as I’ve ever played with. … I love to play music with them.”
Another important hallmark of the Kruger Brothers sound is the banjo playing and composition of Jens Kruger. Happy Traum
has described Kruger as "one of the world's most musically sophisticated and technically accomplished five-string banjo players." Kruger plays in a melodic style that, while it may stem from the three-finger style popularized by Snuffy Jenkins
and Earl Scruggs
, is also differentiated by long melodic passages and a more complex compositional style, often taking on jazz or classical themes and techniques.
The recording that cemented the Kruger Brothers' sound and song writing, Up 18 North, was released in 2002 on the Double Time Inc. label. Included there were a number of tracks that signaled the direction the band was to take in future projects. The title track "Up 18 North" is an instrumental piece, with banjo clearly in the foreground, that remains a prime example of the type of close ensemble playing that characterizes the trio's work. The vocal track "Carolina in the Fall" is an early example of the very personal, resonant, and mature songwriting that they continue to this day.
Most recently their music has ventured further into the themes and forms of classical music, most obviously in their 2011 release, Appalachian Concerto.
The Kruger Brothers apprear occasionally on others' recording projects, perhaps most notably Norman Blake
, Nancy Blake, and Tut Taylor's Shacktown Road (2007), and Steve Spurgin's Past Perfect (2011).
American folk music
American folk music is a musical term that encompasses numerous genres, many of which are known as traditional music or roots music. Roots music is a broad category of music including bluegrass, country music, gospel, old time music, jug bands, Appalachian folk, blues, Cajun and Native American...
, or music within the folk genre inclusive of new compositional and thematic elements. The trio consists of Jens Kruger (banjo, harmony vocals), Uwe Kruger (guitar, lead and harmony vocals) and Joel Landsberg (bass, harmony vocals). The group is acknowledged as one of the most innovative ensembles active in Americana music today.
Career Details
Originally from Switzerland, where the trio first formed, Jens Kruger and Uwe Kruger later moved to the United States. The brothers began playing North American folk music at an early age and were particularly inspired by recordings of Doc WatsonDoc Watson
Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson is an American guitar player, songwriter and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel music. He has won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Watson's flatpicking skills and knowledge of traditional American music are highly regarded...
, Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
, and other progenitors of country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
and folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
. Their first public performances were as a duo, busking on the streets of cities throughout eastern and western Europe. Later, after gaining a recording contract as well as a radio show on SRG SSR, the Swiss public broadcaster, they teamed up with bass player Joel Landsberg, inaugurating a trio that has been playing professionally together since 1995. Landsberg is an American citizen from New York, NY. The first recording project to include Landsberg was Behind the Barn, Vol. 2, which was released in 1997.
Today the group is highly regarded within the world of acoustic music in North America, in particular by those within the industry. They have also gained the attention of some of the musicians, including Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, Tut Taylor
Tut Taylor
Tut Taylor is an American bluegrass musician.Taylor played banjo and mandolin as a child, and began playing dobro at age 14, learning to use the instrument with a distinctive flat-picking style. Taylor was a member of The Folkswingers in the 1960s, who released three LPs; he recorded his debut...
, and Bobby Hicks
Bobby Hicks
Bobby Hicks is a Grammy Award bluegrass fiddler and a professional musician with more than fifty years of experience.Hicks was born in Newton, North Carolina and learned to play the fiddle before he was 9 years old. He attended several fiddlers conventions and at the age of eleven, he won the...
, that once served as models. Watson has said, "The Kruger Brothers are just about as fine a band as I’ve ever played with. … I love to play music with them.”
Music and Recordings
Although initially staying fairly close to a traditional repertoire, the Kruger Brothers later turned to song writing and composition in order to draw more closely from their personal experiences. The result is a catalog of songs distinguished by rich detail and an insight into the delicacy and complexity of everyday life. The honesty of their writing has since become a hallmark of the trio’s work.Another important hallmark of the Kruger Brothers sound is the banjo playing and composition of Jens Kruger. Happy Traum
Happy Traum
Happy Traum is an American folk musician who started playing music in the Fifties. Happy is most famously known as one half of Happy and Artie Traum, a duo he began with his brother...
has described Kruger as "one of the world's most musically sophisticated and technically accomplished five-string banjo players." Kruger plays in a melodic style that, while it may stem from the three-finger style popularized by Snuffy Jenkins
Snuffy Jenkins
DeWitt "Snuffy" Jenkins was an American old time banjo player and an early proponent of the three-finger banjo style.-Biography:...
and Earl Scruggs
Earl Scruggs
Earl Eugene Scruggs is an American musician noted for perfecting and popularizing a 3-finger banjo-picking style that is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music...
, is also differentiated by long melodic passages and a more complex compositional style, often taking on jazz or classical themes and techniques.
The recording that cemented the Kruger Brothers' sound and song writing, Up 18 North, was released in 2002 on the Double Time Inc. label. Included there were a number of tracks that signaled the direction the band was to take in future projects. The title track "Up 18 North" is an instrumental piece, with banjo clearly in the foreground, that remains a prime example of the type of close ensemble playing that characterizes the trio's work. The vocal track "Carolina in the Fall" is an early example of the very personal, resonant, and mature songwriting that they continue to this day.
Most recently their music has ventured further into the themes and forms of classical music, most obviously in their 2011 release, Appalachian Concerto.
The Kruger Brothers apprear occasionally on others' recording projects, perhaps most notably Norman Blake
Norman Blake
Norman Blake may refer to:*Norman Blake , American folk & bluegrass instrumentalist and vocalist*Norman Blake , Scottish rock musician who is a member of Teenage Fanclub...
, Nancy Blake, and Tut Taylor's Shacktown Road (2007), and Steve Spurgin's Past Perfect (2011).
Distinctions and Awards
- In 2011 Jens Kruger was cited for induction into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame in the category of Regional Musician.
- In 2007 the Bangor Symphony Orchestra and the Kruger Brothers received an award for Artistic Excellence from the National Endowment for the ArtsNational Endowment for the ArtsThe National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
. The award was granted in support of the production of Jens Kruger's Music From the Spring.
Discography
- Appalachian Concerto (2011)
- Christmas Magic (2010)
- Forever and a Day (2010)
- Between the Notes (2009)
- The Suite (2007)
- Carolina Scrapbook: Gospel Edition (2006)
- Carolina Scrapbook Vol. 2 (2006)
- Choices (2004)
- Up 18 North (2002)
- Carolina Scrapbook (1999)
- Travel the Gravel (1998)
- Behind the Barn Vol. 2 (1997)
- Access all Areas (1996)
- Behind the Barn (1995)