For release on or after September 8, 2003
Walnut Valley Association
918 Main, Winfield, Kansas 67156
(620) 221-3250

Winfield, Kansas… John Reischman, a Vancouver, BC mandolin master, has assembled a truly international West Coast band for his latest exciting foray into the world of bluegrass music.  He is well-known to his fans and other musicians for his powerhouse mandolin playing, first coming to prominence in the early 80s with California’s legendary Tony Rice Unit and eclectic Good Ol’Persons.  Since then he has carved out a well-deserved reputation in the elite upper stratosphere of mandolin players.

John’s synthesis of this wide range of genres was honed over more than two decades of performing beginning in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1970s.
As an original member of the legendary Tony Rice Unit, John helped to define the 'new acoustic' instrumental scene in the early 1980s with appearances on the band’s groundbreaking Rounder albums Still Inside and Backwaters.
John’s debut solo album, North of the Border highlighted his musical depth and composing skills in a variety of acoustic settings that Bluegrass Unlimited magazine called "monumental ... it establishes a remarkably high standard for mature, tasteful mandolin music".
Through the years John’s distinctive signature has graced a long list of impressive recordings by other top artists including bassist Todd Phillips’ 1996 Grammy winner True Life Blues: The Music of Bill Monroe.
The following year John played on vocalist Kate MacKenzie’s Grammy-nominated The Age of Innocence and his long collaboration with outstanding Canadian singer-songwriter Susan Crowe includes her Juno-nominated album This Far From Home.

In 1999 John teamed with Nashville mandolinist Butch Baldassari and Celtic guitarist Robin Bullock to produce Travelers, a unique instrumental adventure covering bluegrass, Celtic, folk and Latin territory.
Other studio work includes appearances on albums by guitarist Scott Nygard, banjo wizard and 1987 and 1991 Winfield National Bluegrass Banjo Champion Tony Furtado, and Bay Area singer-songwriter Kathy Kallick. In the Vancouver area, John also performs and records world music with Brazilian-born multi-instrumentalist Celso Machado and percussionist Sal Ferreras’ band the Southern Cross Quintet.
Now a familiar figure at bluegrass, folk and jazz festivals, John is also a highly-regarded teacher and participates in music camps and workshops throughout North America.

The rest of the Jaybirds are truly veteran musicians.  Jim Nunally, from the San Francisco Bay area, has established himself over two decades as a versatile guitarist with wonderful tone, speed and clarity. As a vocalist, composer and producer, Jim has also appeared with John Reischman on the 1997 Grammy-winning CD 'True Life Blues, the Songs of Bill Monroe.  Jim also plays select performances with the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience.

Trisha Gagnon of Chilliwack, BC is another vocalist and the bass player in the band. Trisha has a soaring, unique voice that adds an extra dimension to the Jaybirds' sound. A long-time member of B.C.'s award-winning Tumbleweed band, Trisha’s strategic attack and decay on the bass underpins the band’s tight delivery. Seattle's Nick Hornbuckle is widely considered to be one of the Pacific Northwest's leading traditional banjo stylists. “Nick comes front and centre with his fine, syncopated, woody banjo tone” says Tim Stafford in the liner notes to 'Field Guide.' Nick, a prolific composer, contributes two timeless instrumentals to the new album, “Field Guide.”  
The fiddler of the group is Spokane, WA’s own Greg Spatz. Fiddler Magazine describes Greg Spatz as "a world-class bluegrass fiddler." His distinctive tone and wide-ranging style have made him a popular player for years; his performing resume includes stints with Frank Wakefield, High Country and dobro wizard Rob Ickes.
John Reischman and the Jaybirds are a band whose style is at once new and old; their blend of instrumental virtuosity, inspiring material and heartfelt vocals generate a live stage performance not to be missed.
John Reischman and the Jaybirds are only one of the acts that will be performing at the Walnut Valley Festival. This year the festival begins on September 18th and runs through September 21st. Folks may call the Walnut Valley office for information or to purchase tickets at 620-221-3250. For more information about John Reischman and the Jaybirds or any of the other artists that will be performing at the 32nd annual Walnut Valley Festival, fans can log on to the Walnut Valley Festival website at www.wvfest.com.  
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