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"...one hot fiddler" - Cyndi Lauper
"...hauntingly emotional lead vocal" - L.A. times

Lisa Gutkin is best known as the Grammy Award-winning violinist, singer and songwriter of the renowned Klezmatics, and for her score and performance in the Tony Award winning play Indecent, by Paula Vogel. She has co-authored songs with Anne Sexton, Maggie Dubris, and Woody Guthrie, performed and composed for Sex and the City, played in Sting’s musical The Last Ship, and is a MacDowell Fellow.

Back in the 90s, backstage at Ben Freed's Muscoot Farm Bluegrass Festival, Mark Murphy (bass, cello), Michael Sassano (guitar, mandolin), Wayne Fugate, (mandolin), and Lisa Gutkin, (fiddle, tenor guitar, voice), gathered for a jam, intending to go their separate ways to their own bands once the spur-of-the-moment music making was over. Instead, Lisa pulled out one of her quirky originals.

The four were on fire, and when Ben came around to hear what the commotion was about, the newly minted band was on the main stage 20 minutes later.

”Lisa's Pieces," a name that has stuck through the years, gathers occasionally to lovingly reform their impromptu band, with its foot stomping, Irish-y, Jewish-y, Bluegrass-y, special something that Lisa is so well known for.

Promo: https://youtu.be/5y0HPXFVIro

Wayne Fugate
A founding member of the eclectic string band "Uncommon Ground", Wayne performs and tours with “Mandolin Madness” featuring Barry Mitterhoff and “The New York Mandolin Ensemble”. Wayne was on stage in Steve Martin and Edie Brikell's Tony nominated musical "Bright Star" and on its National Tour. He can be heard on the soundtracks of the Emmy nominated film "Home" and the Louis B. Mayer short film, "Respects".

Mark Murphy
Mark’s performances include NPR's Prairie Home Companion, Nashville Networks "Fire On The Mountain,” "Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” David Dye's World Cafe and live performances with Pilobilus Dance Company and The Vanaver Caravan. He has recorded 8 albums, performs extensively with Guy Davis, and played on Pete Seeger’s "Pete at 89" and "Rivertown Kids", as well as The Okee Dokee Bros. "Can You Canoe", all of which won Grammy Awards.

Michael Sassano
As a founding member of the eclectic “Out to Lunch”, Michael honed his harmony chops, creating dynamic twin mandolin arrangements with bandmate Wayne Fugate. He has performed with David Amram, Walt Michael & Co, Buddy Merriam & Backroads, Jon Sholle, Ben Freed’s American Idle and Buddy Merriam’s Back Roads Mandolin.

Special Guest: David Licht
Best known as the drummer and a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning American Klezmer band The Klezmatics. He moved to New York City in 1985 to help manage a recording studio, joined the band Bongwater, and later met Frank London with whom he started The Klezmatics. He also played with When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water.

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