Eclectic, acoustic jazzy folk/pop, singer song writer originals.

13 MP3 Songs
POP: with Live-band Production, BLUES: Mellow Blues



Details:
SpiritFarm performs primarily original music which may be best described as âintimate, slightly irreverent, jazzy pop and pop/folk.â With two singer/songwriters backed up with acoustic guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, electric and acoustic violin and harmonica, SpiritFarm has the flexibility to create and perform music in a variety of genres. The ensemble was originally formed in the late 1990s with five experienced musicians from Eugene who had worked together in various combinations but never all in one band together. They focused on their original songs, with an occasional favorite cover tune thrown in, all performed primarily in a folk style. Their first CD âLive Sessionsâ was released in 2001.

SpiritFarm has reorganized in recent years as a quartet and now has a young, tasty drummer, and utilizes keyboards and electric violin in addition to acoustic guitars. Although the folk roots show through (along with a few grey hairs on some of us), the sound is no longer primarily folk in nature and is quite eclectic. In addition to the high-quality music, audiences appreciate the on-stage interactions between band membersâSpiritFarm has primarily performed in small venues which allow them to engage with each other and with the audience in an intimate fashion.

SpiritFarm is releasing their second CD âPerils of Loveâ in early spring of 2007. It features guest artists such as Don Latarski on guitars and Paul Biondi on sax. The CD will be available in local stores, at performances and online at CD Baby.

Bios of the band members

Brian Price

Brian grew up in the San Francisco area in a musical family studying classical violin, piano, and guitar. As a teenager he performed professionally and broadened his musical experience with studies of jazz piano and pop guitar and in college began improvising on violin as a fiddler with a bluegrass group.

Over the next decade Brian evolved a unique set of improvisational styles that covered swing, jazz, country, rock ânâ roll, folk and pop. He has recorded with, or played with groups such as The Grateful Dead, Old and in the Way, Janis Ian, Frank Wakefield, Hot Tuna and John Shine.

Since moving to Eugene in 1987 Brian has performed with many of the top local musicians and musical groups including Oregon Festival of American Music, Mason Williams, the Emerald Valley Jazz Kings, Dopplegang, and LaZoo. In addition to performing Brian has recorded with a number of local artists and has contributed music to CD games and relaxation tapes and CDs.

In addition to playing acoustic and electric violin, piano, and electronic keyboards, Brian does most of the arranging for SpiritFarm. He has co-written songs with Jim Daugherty, (music by Brian and lyrics by Jim), and has also proclaimed himself the master of âsassy chatter.â

Percy Franklin

Percy grew up in Klamath Falls, Oregon, cutting his musical teeth on a tenor banjo from the Sears catalog. His first folk group venture with two fellow high school freshmen was short lived as the rock ân roll of the early 60s began to stake its claim. He was soon playing electric bass in a high school quartet. Versions of this same band continued on through college and toured briefly throughout Oregon and northern California.

With his ears still humming, Percy took up acoustic guitar in 1969 hoping to find a quieter outlet for his musical talents, and over the next several years became a solid rhythm player and finger picker.
Continuing to play electric bass and acoustic guitar,

Percy performed with several trios and quartets in the area, and slowly began presenting his own compositions in occasional solo concerts. He has appeared on the recordings of other local artists as bassist and backup vocalist.

Percy plays bass with SpiritFarm and has written several songs that the group performs, most dealing with growing up in small-town Oregon and the delights therein.

Erik Baker

Erik also grew up in Oregon and began playing percussion at age eleven. A year later he went to the drum set and, throughout junior high and high school, participated in symphonic band, jazz band, and orchestra, winning numerous awards in honor band participation and solo competition along the way.

College years found Erik exploring in a number of musical styles including rock, ska, funk, big band, and last but not least, three years of University level marching band.
Most recently Erik has been involved in a number of recording projects as a studio drummer and was asked in 2006 to travel to Tokyo to take part in a memorial concert for a well-known Christian musician.
As SpiritFarmâs first drummer, Erik provides a foundation that has transformed many of the groupâs original tunes. Whether itâs a steady brush shuffle on a snare, or a full set solo, the addition of Erik has pointed SpiritFarm in several new and exciting directions.

Jim Daugherty

Jim spent his early years in Lakewood, Ohio where he took up guitar and wrote his first song at the tender age of 14. In 1968 he moved west to California and after two years of performing and organizing shows in the Los Angeles area, he moved to Oregon. After spending time on a commune in Willamina he eventually made his way to Eugene.

Jim continued to hone his skills as a songwriter and in the next few years compiled an impressive collection of songs ranging from light and humorous blues to biting social commentary to introspective ballads.
While singing and playing in various acoustic vocal groups, he also appeared in several local musical theatre productions, often singing lead rolls. He has also become fluent on the harmonica and has developed his own melodic style that has been featured on recordings of other local artists.

Jim plays guitar and harmonica and is the primary vocalist for the group. The majority of the songs that SpiritFarm performs have been written by Jim. He also adds backup vocals to several numbers and delights audiences with his long-winded introductions of the other
band members.