The Jon Rubin Group traces its start to 2008 when a fingerpicking folk/blues guitarist met a young, award-winning classical violist improvising fiddle lines in a bluegrass jam group in Monterey; and the following year connected with a Grammy-credentialed classical/jazz violinist in SF. Since spring 2009 the group, with line-up variations as a guitar/violin duo or trio including bass, have appeared regularly from the Central Coast to San Francisco, playing an original acoustic fusion sound combining folk, rock, blues, celtic, bluegrass, jazz and classical influences. The group blends improvisational virtuoso playing with real passion for the musical tradition and stories of their songs.
Jon Rubin was inspired to play acoustic guitar by Jorma Kaukonen, a disciple of the Reverand Gary Davis school of fingerpicking country gospel blues. From these rhythmic underpinnings has evolved an original style applied to mostly traditional songs in the Americana/roots and British folk/blues idioms. Jon has studied and attended workshops with legendary fingerstyle players Martin Simpson, Woody Mann, Duck Baker, Rick Ruskin, Laurence Juber and Bob Brozman. (for more on Jon, see the interview on Media page).
Deanna Lynn is a student at Monterey Peninsula College and plays in the MPC orchestra. In 2006 and 2008 she performed in the Carmel Bach Festival's Youth Artist Concert, and in 2007 she won Youth Music Monterey's concerto competition. Deanna appears as featured guest soloist, poet violist and provides vocal harmonies in The Jon Rubin Group. (for more on Deanna, see the article on Media page).
Christian Martinez was inspired to play bass by Jaco Pastorius, the only electric bassist ever inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame. Like Jaco, Christian started out on drums, then moved to classical upright bass in a youth orchestra. He currently studies music theory, sings in a college choir and plays Fender bass when holding down the bottom with The Jon Rubin Group.
Cal Keaoola is a native of Hawaii, a fiddling violinist well versed in all styles from folk to blues to jazz to latin. In 2001, he completed a US Rodeo Circuit Tour with Pearl River Country Band, and Country Music Hall of Fame’s Patrick Haggerty. He is featured on three Hawaiian Grammy Award winning albums of the early 2000’s; and has performed with legendary rock band, It’s a Beautiful Day; Bill Keith of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass band; Scotland’s, Alasdair Fraser; Hawaii’s Don Ho; and Bobby Black & John Ely of Asleep at the Wheel. Occasionally, you’ll find him playing with Oriente Salsa Band, The Billy Boys (country), and The Keaoola Jazz Ensemble. As former faculty and Artist-in-Residence of the esteemed NC School of the Arts and Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC; Cal continues to teach/coach students in classical/jazz violin, and folk/bluegrass fiddling in the Bay Area. Cal appears as guest soloist with The Jon Rubin Group at San Francisco area performances. |
