Old-time, Western Swing, Americana

About Snapshot

Katie Glassman

Fiddler, Singer, Songwriter

IMG_9843AKatie Glassman is that rare musician who possesses a combination of instrumental virtuosity and powerful musical expression. She is one of the country’s most renowned and decorated Texas-style and swing fiddlers, as well as an accomplished songwriter, singer, and a highly sought after teacher.

Based in Boulder, Colorado, Katie currently tours and records with the Western Flyers, and leads her own band, Katie Glassman and Snapshot. She also maintains a thriving private teaching practice and travels to teach at music camps throughout the country.

Katie holds a Bachelor’s in Performance with a Jazz Certificate from University of Colorado, Boulder, and in 2007 spent a year studying jazz violin at the world renowned Centre Musique Didier Lockwood in Dammarie-Les-Lys, France.

In 2015, Katie won the National Swing Fiddle Championship in Weiser, Idaho, took first in both the Bob Wills and Open divisions at the Bob Wills Festival and Fiddle Contest in Greenville, Texas and is the three-time reigning Colorado state fiddle champion. Other notable victories were in 2013 at Rockygrass in Lyons, Colorado, and Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, to name but a few.

While success in the contest arena is a testament to Katie’s lifelong dedication to her instrument, her singing and songwriting are increasingly taking center stage. 2011 saw the release of Snapshot, her first album of all original material. Katie has since continued to hone her creative process with the same focus and commitment to excellence that she brings to her fiddling. In 2014 she was awarded a prestigious Ucross Residency, where she spent a week in rural Wyoming writing. Her songs explore modern emotional landscapes with sensitivity and wit while still drawing from the deep well of traditional American styles.

Katie Glassman and Snapshot’s most recent release is 2014’s Dream a Little Dream, which features close collaboration and co-writing with her fine band. They have toured extensively in support of the record and have garnered a national following for their marriage of old-time Western music with contemporary songwriting and musicianship.

With the formation of the Western Flyers in 2015, Katie has found her ultimate musical home. Guitarist Joey McKenzie and bassist Gavin Kelso are Katie’s counterparts on their instruments; lifelong devotees of western swing and Texas fiddle music who have completely immersed themselves in the style. They are inarguably one of the best swing rhythm sections a fiddler could hope to play over. With a forthcoming release in 2016, the Western Flyers are poised to be a significant force in the world of Western music. With performances already logged at the Library of Congress and national and international tours planned, they are a band in full swing.

Katie Glassman is nothing short of one of history’s most passionate ambassadors of fiddle music. Through her performances and teaching, she is ably upholding a grand tradition and enthusiastically passing it on.

Eric Moon

Piano, Accordion, Steel, Vocalist and Songwriter
photo by Kit Hedman

photo by Kyle Usserry

Eric Moon’s list of accomplishments is almost as impressive as hearing him play. Considered by many a technical and creative genius, his ability and ideas seem to know no bounds. From a classical upbringing, jazz training and major-label international experience, everything Eric touches turns to musical gold.

He has been performing since the age of 8, when he sang the boy soprano part in the second world-premier of George Crumb’s “Ancient Voices of Children” with Jan DeGaetani and the Boulder Philharmonic. In the next few years, he won several piano competitions at the state level. He was the winner of the Music Teacher’s National Association composition contest at the national level. He studied for two years at the Eastman school of music in Rochester, where he worked steadily as a jazz musician, including performances with former Coltrane bassist Steve Davis.

Returning to Colorado in 1981, he worked for the vocal group Rare Silk, including the recording of the album “Black and Blue”, co-wrote the song “Bob Goes to the Store” which was released as a single and video by the band SpyroGyra, performed with Charlie Pride and Bob Hope, and was the pianist for an influential Denver jazz combo led by drummer Bruno Carr, well known for his work with Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Herbie Mann and others.

In 1987, hired as pianist, arranger and musical director for singer/songwriter Jill Sobule, Moon put together bands for showcases that led to her publishing deal out of Nashville and subsequent recording deal on MCA. Moving to Nashville in 1989, he played and recorded with top studio musicians, including Vince Gill, bassist Victor Wooten, and session legends Eddy Bayers and Michael Rhodes.

Relocated to Los Angeles in 1993, he produced and co-wrote a number one hit for Malaysian singer Ella, composed music for national television ads for Mervyn’s and the E! network, toured Europe as keyboardist for German punk icon Nina Hagen, ran the computers on a series of shows for Icelandic superstar Bjork, recorded with Nancy Wilson of “Heart”, designed sounds for Alesis Synthesizers, composed music for national cable TV, and recorded backing tracks for the Chippendales dancers.

In 2006, he went to Wales to record the album “The Pull” with songwriter Kreg Viesselman. There he met Liz Barnez, with whom he has recorded and performed ever since, including shows in New Orleans and Minneapolis, and at the House of Blues. Now established in Denver as the first call piano and accordion session man, Eric is creative force to be reckoned with.

Charles Mertens

Upright Bass, Vocalist
photo by Kit Hedman

photo by Kyle Usserry

Charles Parker Mertens is a bassist, composer, producer, and teacher in Colorado. He has a broad musical vocabulary that includes Jazz, Rock, Gospel, World, Klezmer, Gypsy, Funk, Electronic, Latin, and Indian music. Originally from the small town of Telluride, CO, Charles grew up attending the various world famous music festivals held there and hence developed a deep appreciation for different kinds of music from an early age.

In 2001, Charles was awarded the Colorado All State Jazz Bass Player award and later that year earned a full scholarship to the University of Colorado at Boulder to study Classical Music with Paul Erhard. After a year of intense studies in classical music, his teacher invited him to travel for a year to Bangalore, India to study Indian classical music with renowned musicians TT Srinivasan and Ustad Faiyez Khan.

Upon his return to America in 2003 he received a scholarship to attend the University of Denver where he completed a Bachelors degree in Jazz Performance while studying with legendary Denver Bassist Kenny Walker (bassist for Larry Coryell, Eddie Turner.) In 2005 Charles attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, UK where he studied with the renowned bassist Michael Mondesir (Sting, Tina Turner, John Mcglaughlin). Since then, he has played internationally in London, Morocco, Panama, Mexico, and Spain.

With his versatility and deep musicianship, Charles is one of the busiest bassists in Colorado, and welcomes all the work with a smile!

Greg Schochet

Guitar, Vocalist and Songwriter
photo by Kit Hedman

photo by Kyle Usserry

Greg Schochet is a full-time performer, teacher and producer in Boulder, Colorado. Equally adept on guitar and mandolin, he is fluent in number of acoustic and electric styles, including bluegrass, swing, and country.

A veteran of many touring and recording bands, his love of music and traveling has brought him to some of the most acclaimed venues in the country, including A Prairie Home Companion, Red Rocks, and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, as well as the Rainforest World Music Festival in Malaysia.

Born and raised in the suburbs of New York city, Greg’s musical youth was framed by his father’s record collection and FM radio of the 70s and 80s. Combined with a deep love for all things traditional, twangy and old-timey, Greg’s musical sensibilities are wide-ranging and versatile.

He is an integral part of Colorado’s thriving roots music scene, and is a sought after instructor, session player, producer and collaborator.


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