Tony Furtado

Two-time National Banjo Champion Tony Furtado is one of those rare virtuosos who puts a sense of melodic invention and an almost hunt-and-peck search for the correct note or phrase ahead of sheer dazzling technicality. He is a banjo player's banjo player, effortlessly able to play -- and combine -- Bluegrass, Celtic and even Bebop. He is also a formidable slide guitarist whose "band" is a who's who of Bay Area luminaries from the folk, jazz and Experimental worlds. The band includes drummer Scott Amendola, fiddler Darrol Anger and outside guitar hero Buckethead. They play category-defying music that blends dazzling musicianship and stellar songwriting. Furtado also shows himself to be a subtly soulful singer.