Contemporary Canadian Bluegrass

15 MP3 Songs
COUNTRY: Progressive Bluegrass, COUNTRY: Traditional Bluegrass

Show all album songs: Beyond the Ridge Songs


Details:
Formed in 1989, band members quickly discovered they had the bluegrass âX factorâ to win over fans with their stellar instrumental proficiency mixed with a genuine gift for entertaining. Within a couple of summers on the western Canadian folk festival circuit, and following the 1991 airing of their video single North Wind on CBC-TVâs Country Beat, MuchMusic and CMT, as well as a string of appearances on CBC Radio with Morningside host Peter Gzowski and Vinyl Café yarn-spinner Stuart McLean, Jerusalem Ridge found itself at the top of the bluegrass community in Canada.

In addition to numerous appearances on TV and radio, the award-winning recording group has performed at many popular North American bluegrass and folk music events, performing or sharing the workshop stage with such artists as Del McCoury, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, The Fairfield Four, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Chris Thile & Nickel Creek, Tim OâBrien, Laurie Lewis, Peter Rowan, Jerry Douglas and more.

The bandâs sixth album, Together, recorded in 2001 with California dobro great LeRoy Mack, netted the CD an early ballot nomination for âRecorded Event of the Yearâ at the annual International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards in Louisville, KY.

In January 2006, Jerusalem Ridge embarked on an entirely new direction in a unique, ground-breaking bluegrass-goes-to-the-symphony program entitled âFire on the Mountain: A Bluegrass Music Experience!â The program had its debut Jan. 17 with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and toured western Canada in Fall 2006 / Winter 2007. Symphony dates include:

Jan. 17/06 â Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (premiere)
Sept. 2/06 â Edmonton Symphony Orchestra âSymphony under the Skyâ
Oct. 5. /06 â Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
Jan. 27/07 â Red Deer Symphony Orchestra
March 29/07 â Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Jan. 12/08 â Regina Symphony Orchestra
April 12 -13/08 â Windsor Symphony
April 16-18/09 â Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra


Individual Performer Biographies


Craig Korth (Banjo, Dobro, Vocals)

Craig Korth picked up the banjo at age 12 after his mother saw an episode of TVâs The Beverly Hillbillies and asked him if he'd be interested in learning how to play. He did. Thirty years later, he's still playing. But Craig, a Western Canadian Banjo and Guitar Champion, is also a busy musician. He has performed for the past 16 years with Jerusalem Ridge and is a much-sought-after session player and producer in and around Alberta.

Craigâs other musical credits include performing and touring with his wife, songwriter Julie Kerr, as well as The Bills, David Francey, Maria Dunn, Billy Cowsill, Ronnie Hayward, and Tom Phillips and the Men of Constant Sorrow. Korth released his first solo album, Bankview, in 2002 to critical acclaim.

An avid and knowledgeable collector of vintage bluegrass instruments, he's also the host of Fire on the Mountain, a weekly bluegrass program broadcast province-wide on Albertaâs CKUA Radio. Korth is also a contributing editor and columnist for Bluegrass North magazine, the voice of the Canadian bluegrass scene.

He resides in Calgary, where these days he's perfectly happy spending time with his wife and their two young daughters, Ella and Amy.


Byron Myhre (Fiddle, Mandolin, Vocals)

Son of Alfie Myhre, western Canadian old-time fiddle legend, Byron Myhre grew up competing in old-time fiddle competitions and has become a nationally recognized, award-winning performer in his own right.

Adept at a variety of musical styles, Myhre is a ferocious bluegrass fiddler who has appeared on record and on stage in North America and Europe with Jerusalem Ridge, John Reischman & The Jaybirds, Kebâ Moâ, Craig Young, the Craig Korth-Julie Kerr Band, Tammy Fassaert, Maria Dunn, and others since he first joined Jerusalem Ridge in 1994. Myhre is equally talented on mandolin and guitar.

When heâs not playing music, Byron operates his own Edmonton music store (Myhreâs Music) specializing in acoustic and bluegrass instruments. Byron, his wife Kim, and their four children reside in Sherwood Park, Alberta.


Joe Teichroeb (Guitar, Vocals)

Jerusalem Ridgeâs newest member is guitarist/vocalist Joe âSmokinâ Joeâ Teichroeb (pronounced âTike-robeâ). His soulful lead vocals contribute the band's driving style. Joeâs deft guitar work is featured prominently at live shows and often brings rousing applause from audiences.

Writes Bluegrass Now magazine: "He is an excellent (Tony) Rice-influenced player whose resonating vocal style shines on several numbers."
Joe performed with Manitobaâs highly successful Dry River Boys for 11 years prior to joining Jerusalem Ridge in early 2005. The Boys were featured on TVâs Bravo Channel and over the bluegrass radio airwaves, recorded four albums and toured Canada extensively, winning a loyal following from coast to coast.

Joe, his wife Jamie, and their two children live in Winkler, Manitoba â the heart of southern Manitobaâs Mennonite community.


Keith Burgess (Upright Bass, Vocals)

Upright bassist and vocalist Keith Burgess, a 27-year veteran of bluegrass and roots music, has performed with a variety of bluegrass and folk artists, including Jerusalem Ridge, Del McCoury, LeRoy Mack, Restless Lester, Tom Wilson and more.

An experienced musician, booking agent, producer, instructor, journalist and author, Keith is a former Acoustic Musician columnist, Bluegrass Canada Magazine advisory board member, and author of a self-help manual for musicians, entitled Establishing Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Performing Roots Music in Canada.

Keith resides in Edmonton with his boisterous and active family menagerie: wife Bev, teenage son Peter, daughter Sarah and son-in-law Tim, granddaughter Mia, Harley the Dog, and Sam the Guinea Pig.


Selected Previous Performances

CBC Radio-AM, âVinyl Caféâ (Live and pre-recorded, w/ host Stuart McLean)
CBC Radio-AM, âMorningsideâ (Live, w/ the late Peter Gzowski)
CBC Radio-FM âDisc Driveâ (Live at Edmontonâs Winspear Centre, w/ host Jurgen Gothe)
Edmonton Folk Festival, AB
Winnipeg Folk Festival, MB
Calgary Folk Festival, AB
Regina Folk Festival, SK
Folk on the Rocks, NWT
Wintergrass, Tacoma, WA
IBMA World of Bluegrass, Owensboro, KY
Canadian County Music Week (Canadian Country Music Association)
CBC-TV âCountry Beatâ
MuchMusic TV
Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Red Deer Symphony Orchestra
Arden Theatre w/ Stuart McLean and âVinyl Caféâ On Tour
Horizon Stage, Spruce Grove, AB
Festival Place, Sherwood Park, AB
William Glesby Center, Portage La Prairie, MB
West End Cultural Center, Winnipeg, MB
The Exchange, Regina, SK
Blueberry Bluegrass Festival, AB
Shady Grove Bluegrass Festival, AB
Tottenham Bluegrass Festival, ON
Palmer Rapids Bluegrass Festival, ON
Chilliwack Bluegrass Festival, BC
Granville island Bluegrass Festival, BC

Discography

Together - Jerusalem Ridge & LeRoy Mack (2001)- JR060501- JR Records/IndiePool/Ol' Coot
Beyond The Ridge (1999) - JR050299 - JR Records/IndiePool/Ol' Coot
Make a Joyful Noise (1994) - JR040494 - JR Records/IndiePool/Ol'Coot
Looking Back (1993) - JR030493 - JR Records/IndiePool/Ol'Coot
North Wind (1991) - JR020591- JR Records/Ol' Coot
Jerusalem Ridge (1990) - JR010390 JR Records/Ol' Coot