• Genre :: Bluegrass
• Listen :: The Blackest Crow
• View :: Band Website | Alicia Jo Rabin's Blog | Sarah Alden's Blog | Sean Condron's Website
• download :: HiRes Image

Hoppin’ John String Band performs and teaches music deeply rooted in the ballads, fiddle tunes, and traditions of the Appalachian Mountains of the United States. Through story and song, Hoppin' John String Band brings alive the experience of the American laborer, farmer and people from all walks of life. This music is made for bringing people together to sing, dance and to celebrate life. Comprised of two fiddles, guitar, banjo and bass, this band is sure to bring you to your feet and inspire you to sing along.

Ensemble members have hosted workshops on these traditional art forms internationally. With strong roots in Brooklyn, New York, this quartet actively performs for and educates local audiences of all ages. Constantly creating and innovating, the ensemble also writes original tunes inspired by classic melodies. "This music communicates the joy of being alive," says vocalist and fiddle player Alicia Jo Rabins. "It is music for stomping along with, for dancing and clapping. In its stories, American history comes through."

Alicia Jo Rabins (fiddle and voice) brings the history of traditional American music to audiences nationally and internationally. With a flair for bluegrass, old-time, Cajun and klezmer music, Rabins has toured countries such as Guatemala, England, Israel, France, Poland and Canada. In addition to performing, Rabins teaches the culture and technique of traditional American music to children and adults. Rabins was a founding member of The Mammals and is the fiddler in Golem, New York City's acclaimed klezmer-punk band. In 2003 she released Sugar Shack, a solo album of traditional American fiddle music. Her Brooklyn-based rock band, Girls in Trouble, will release their debut album of songs about women in the Old Testament on JDub Records in fall 2009. Rabins received a bachelor's degree from Barnard College and she has studied at the Peabody Conservatory.

Sarah Alden (fiddle and voice), a Brooklyn, New York resident, is an avid performer and community educator. In addition to her work with the Hoppin’ John String Band, Alden has worked with Dan Zanes, The Woes and Jose Flatfix Stringband. For five years, she toured internationally with the Luminescent Orchestrii and hosted workshops in Romanian and Hungarian violin. Alden earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Brooklyn College and has travelled to Eastern Europe, The Balkans and the Appalachian region of the United States to study and collect traditional folk music.

Sean Condron (guitar, banjo and mandolin), born and raised in Queens, New York, is skilled in many instruments. Condron has performed with several ensembles, such as The Wooster Street Trolley Jazz Band, Tin Pan and his own Brooklyn Rhythm Masters. A spirited instructor, Condron teaches in New York Public Schools through the program CREATE!, and works with other speciality education programs through Hospital, Inc. Condron is the musical director of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Wild West Jamboree. In addition to his work in the tri-state area, Condron has toured Ireland, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Russia, Guatemala, Belize, Canada and Mexico. Condron has studied at New York University, S.U.N.Y. Purchase and the Manhattan School of Music.

Taylor Bergren-Chrisman (bass) is accomplished in many musical forms, including klezmer, Pan-Latin American and traditional jazz. He has toured internationally through Canada, Japan, Poland, Spain and Taiwan. In New York, Bergren-Chrisman has instructed students in bass technique and music theory, among other things. Bergren-Chrisman attended Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the Centre Informatique Musicale in Paris, France.