A freshman at Northgate High School, Nate is developing into one of the top young mandolin players in California, and he's no slouch on guitar, either.  He sings lead and harmony vocals and is an excellent arranger.  He has a great ear (especially for Mom's and Dad's mistakes) and he helps Dad set up the equipment at gigs.  Nate has had the benefit of some excellent mandolin teachers along the way -- John Blasquez, Tom Bekeny and Dix Bruce -- and he's had the privilege of performing onstage with Dix, Jim Nunally, Bill Evans and Megan Lynch.  In 2009, Nate was selected as one of just two dozen youths from around the country to perform at the International Bluegrass Music Association's "Fan Fest" in Nashville, Tennessee.  He and his brother also play in "OMGG," an all-youth bluegrass band that is rapidly becoming one of the most popular bluegrass bands in the Bay Area.  You can check out OMGG on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_0fzpAJ3GI. Nate is also a fine trumpet player, and plays in his high school jazz band.

Just in 6th grade, Max plays and sings way beyond his years.  After starting out on guitar in 2005, he switched to banjo for the benefit of the family band, and, as a student of Bill Evans, is emerging as a fine young picker on the five-string.  He is equally comfortable on upright bass -- which he plays in his other bluegrass band (OMGG), his middle school jazz band and in a community youth orchestra -- and can sing lead, tenor or baritone.    Like his older brother, Max had the honor of being selected to perform at IBMA in Nashville in 2009, and he has become a stalwart of the "Kids on Bluegrass" program at the California Bluegrass Associaton's Father's Day Festival in Grass Valley every June, and provided one of the more memorable moments in 2009 when his bass exploded in the middle of Max's bass solo, which you can view here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfowkTbSZj0.  Max is also an avid tennis player.

A kindergartener, Tessa joined the band just a few weeks after her first fiddle lesson in the spring of 2009, when she announced to her parents that she wanted to play at their next gig.  Up to the mic she came, and she hasn't looked back, making rapid progress under the tutelage of fiddle instructor Catherine Manning, and soaking up new fiddle tunes like a sponge absorbs water.  Having a six-year old in your band requires a fair degree of flexibility -- Tessa likes to play a few tunes, then sprawl on stage behind us with a coloring book or run off to play with a friend.  We don't quite know where this is going to lead, but she's having a great time, so watch out for her in 2010!

Until 2005, Gail had no musical experience, and wasn't really looking to join a band.  But as Bob and the boys were drawn more deeply into bluegrass, she saw the writing on the wall, and somewhat reluctantly accepted a rental bass that Bob brought home one night.  To her surprise and delight, she soon found that, not only was she able to hold down a steady downbeat, but she enjoyed it, too.  A venture into singing soon followed, and now Gail provides a solid bass line for the band at every gig, as well as some soulful lead vocals on a song or two. She has attended music camp where she studied with Lisa Burns, Claire Lynch and Trish Gagnon. Aside from raising the kids and being in the band, she also finds time for tennis and pottery.

When Bob's eyes were first opened to bluegrass at a festival in the summer of 2005, he could only dream that someday he'd have his entire family picking and singing with him.  But the dream took shape, and a year later the family was performing at the Walnut Creek Farmers Market.  Bob provides steady rhythm guitar as well as lead and harmony vocals, and still pinches himself at every gig to make sure that he's not just dreaming.  As far as Bob knows, he is the only lawyer in the country specializing in employee benefits who has a family bluegrass band.