Peter Barnes
Peter Barnes, Massachusetts Renaissance man Peter Barnes has been playing more instruments, in more genres, in more interesting locations, for longer than most of us can remember. Averaging over 250 gigs per year, he currently plays with The Latter Day Lizards, Bare Necessities and the Third String Trio and also on the radio program Says You! Peter also keeps himself busy with teaching, recording, publishing music books, perfecting his saxophone playing and crafting arcane electronic devices.
Earl Gaddis
Earl Gaddis, Michigan Earl Gaddis was originally trained as a classical violinist, with a special passion for Baroque music. But his orientation shifted when he discovered the excitement of small-ensemble music improvisation for dancers, with its unique opportunities for creating interesting harmonies, countermelodies, and rich musical textures on the spur of the moment. He is now a full-time dance musician who has been playing violin and viola for various combinations of English, Scottish, American, and international dancing for more than fifty years. He plays at dance camps, workshops, balls, festivals, and dances throughout the United States, in Canada, and abroad. As a member of Bare Necessities Earl has made eighteen recordings of English Country Dance music so far, and he has recorded with a number of other musicians as well. He lives in great contentment on ten acres of woods in Plainwell, Michigan with his wife Sherry Brodock.
Jacqueline Schwab
Image©Ted Crane
Jacqueline Schwab, Massachusetts Best known for her sound track performances on Ken Burns' documentaries and her improvisatory playing with the English dance band *Bare Necessities*, pianist Jacqueline Schwab enjoys performing solo and duo concerts, creating sound track music, playing for dances, and teaching. She has performed on over a dozen of Burns' documentaries, including his Grammy-winning* Civil War*, his Emmy-winning *Baseball*, *Lewis and Clark*, *Mark Twain,* *The War,* *The National Parks*, and *Dust Bowl*. She has performed at the White House for President Clinton, celebrating Burns' *Lewis and Clark* series, and also, with Scottish singer Jean Redpath, on public radio's *A Prairie Home Companion* and CBS' *Late Show with David Letterman*. With *Bare Necessities*, Jacqueline has recorded 18 CDs of English dance music and played for dance events around the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. She has also led workshops for English dance leaders and musicians. Her dance leading emphasizes the movement style, connection to the music and the dancers, and the joy of dancing. She lives in Massachusetts.