Colin O'Brien
Banjoist
Colin O'Brien has a firm base in both Bluegrass, and Melodic style playing.
He has studied privately with Bela Fleck mentor, Tony Trischka. His past musical
studies include Classical and Jazz guitar at Cornish College of the Arts in
Seattle, WA, and guitar at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. He is currently
on the faculty at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music as a banjo and guitar
instructor.
Colin's performances with Salt Creek reflect his adventurous musical spirit. The band plays bluegrass, celtic, middle-eastern, and several of O'Brien's compositions. All of which serve to launch the group into improvisatory bliss. "Improvisation for me is a sum total of three things: What I have heard, How well I know my instrument, and What I feel at the moment of performance. The music must evolve to remain vital!"
Bluegrass was totally innovative when it first surfaced with Bill Monroe in the 40's. Monroe, the father of bluegrass, was a daring and inventive player. He was very forward looking, making NEW music. Within a remarkably short time, the sound Monroe pioneered came to define the bluegrass sound. "As much as I love it, I couldn't just play bluegrass. I love and am inspired by lots of different music. What I play is a distillation of it."
Salt Creek is the perfect pod for O'Brien's banjo explorations.
Drop Colin a line at Colin@saltcreekmusic.com
