Janet Phillips, Flautist, resides in Danville Va. and graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Music Therapy. She is Principal Flautist and a board member of the Danville Symphony Orchestra. In addition to performing with Michael, she performs locally as a soloist and with various small ensembles. She also teaches flute at Chatham Hall as well as other woodwind instrument lessons to students in Danville and the surrounding areas. A fan and friend of singer/composer/pianist Ronnie Milsap, Janet was the “key-liaison” for arranging to have Ronnie perform w/ the Danville Symphony last year.

 

 

Phillips / Thompson Duo

 

MIKE WILLIS, Jazz, Classical, & Folk Music :  Harp, Vibraphone, Percussion, Keyboard- Synthesizer

Background :  Thompson & Willis began performing together in high-school in 1968 with the formation of their combo: “The Deep Six”.   Since that time they each have worked as solo artists as well as performing in a large number of varying group venues from small ensembles to orchestral settings.

Mike Willis’ formal training includes study at Brevard and Appalachian State University.  He has performed with the New York Quartet; and regularly performs with Neal Davenport; the Jerry Lambert Trio; and Crossover Group, “Puddingstone”.  Mike Willis & Michael Thompson are listed in the NC Touring Artist Directory as : The Thompson/Willis Duo.  He has produced two CD’s w/ Neal Davenport: “Sending the Magic” and “The Legacy”; as well as numerous audio-offerings w/ “Puddingstone.  He is one of the most active members of the FarmJazz Co-Op&Social Club, performing w/ Thompson in duo , trio, and quartet settings.

 

 

The Thompson / Willis Duo

TONY  WILLIAMSON, Jazz, Bluegrass , Classical, Fusion

Tony grew up in a musical family, playing at home and in church yet heavily influenced by music he heard attending fiddlers’ conventions.  One of his most notable influences was the late-great Bill Monroe, who, sort of “took me under his wing” according to Tony, then about age 11. .Tony began playing professionally around age 14. He graduated from UNC at Chapel Hill ; with a degree in English Literature; and at the World-Championship-Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention in Union Grove , NC .  Tony  won a First Place prize in Mandolin.

Over the next 15yrs,  Tony continued to explore his bluegrass roots; touring and striking up lifetime friendships with some of todays’ most popular bluegrass, old-time, country,and(yes)rock musicians.  He resides in Chatham Co.; on land that has been in his family for more than 3 centuries, with his wife, son, and daughter.  Tony has been nominated for 5  Grammys and received numerous IBMA awards for his many recording ventures; including 5 or 6 CD’s of his own and the “Winter-Wonderland” Christmas album featuring Michael on guitar and friend Robbie Link on bass.  He regularly performs w/“the Williamson Brothers Band” – a group formed with his brother Gary, Plus, the new Group “RIFT”, which features his son Hardy, along w/ Don Wright on Banjo and Robbie Link on Bass. The new RIFT  CD “Push On  Through” is available along with all Tony’s CD’s at  “Mandolin Central”, a full service music shop, is his base of operations, which he runs from the “old-home-place”.   Be sure to check out his website:  www.mandolincentral.com  on the web.

 

Robbie Link, Bassist on the X-mas, and Michael and Friends cd's. Clearly one of the best bass players on the planet.  Proprietor of RED HAWK MUSIC.com   Stringed Instrument Sales, Rentals, and Repairs; specializing in violins, violas, cellos, and basses. .  Out of Chapel Hill, NC.  Robbie performsw/many groups including: Ensemble Serendipity; David DiGiuseppe Trio: Bernie Petteway Trio: and with Tony Williamson in RIFT, and The Tony Williamson Band.
 

Renee Henry, musician and film artist, commissioned the the cd Farm Jazz with a large cast of great pickers. 

Renee Henry has been entertaining at festivals, coffeehouses and clubs for years in diverse music combinations.  Renee's track record speaks for itself, recording Farm Jazz with Grammy Award winning artist Dan Tyminski, the renowned mandolinist Tony Williamson, and guitarist Michael Thompson.

 

Renee’s vocal versatility will take you for a journey through traditional folk to bluegrass, from jazz to rock.  She flavors OneStringOver with her vocals, guitar, Celtic harp, bass and percussion. ReneeHenry.com

Gloryland Rangers, Gospel-bluegrass project featuring Tommy Hartley on guitar and vocals, Harris "Greenie" Marley on string-bass, Rick Pridemore on rhythm and vocals, and Michael Thompson on banjo and dobro.

Shown here at the Southern Coastal Bluegrass Festival in Kure Beach, NC.

The Gloryland Rangers  Tommy            Michael             Harris                  Rick           

Michael Thompson, Guitarist, is the first individual to earn a degree in guitar performance from The University of  North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He won First Place Guitar at the 50th Anniversary of the Union Grove World Championship Old-Time Fiddler's Convention in Union Grove, NC.  He received his Masters in Music Education w/emphasis in Music Therapy from East Carolina University.  After serving for over 10 years in Artist-in-Residence programs with the NC Arts Council, he worked as an Entertainer aboard the Mississippi Queen Riverboat for several years before returning to NC to teach, perform and record.  In addition to performing with Janet, he also teaches at Chatham Hall in Chatham VA, the Kirby Gallery in Roxboro, and coordinates the “Farm-Jazz” Musicians Co-op Project; in which he books engagements, performs, and records with the many accomplished musicians he has befriended over the years. Recently, Michael entertained with mandolin-artist Tony Williamson, on the behalf of the NC Opera Society, at the Artist Reception for Luciano Pavarotti.

Mad Musician sports proud new vest

 

The FarmJazz world-class Wedding Trio comprised of Mike Willis: harps & keyboards; Janet Phillips: flutes; and Michael Thompson: guitars; have a strong background in classical-performance studies.  These virtuoso-level musicians utilize various instrument combinations to present unique and elegant musical-offerings for your most special occasions. The music for your ceremony will be customized to provide just the right ambience from the Prelude to the Resessional. They will also provide professional accompanient for vocalists, and create transitional "segues" so that those "special-moments" unfold smoothly with style and grace.

 

 

Hailing from Windsor NC, by way of a twenty year stint in Nashville TN, Allan Thompson now makes his home in beautiful Mt. Pleasant, SC. Here Allan teaches music to those with a complete desire to learn folk, bluegrass, Celtic, and many other styles.  Brothers in "name-only" Michael T. and Allan T. go "way-back" to the late1970's in the eastern part of NC where they first met, and begin "pickin' & grinnin'" together at every opportunity. 

Allan plays the 5-string banjo, dobro, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and harmonica. His main musical influences are Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Josh Graves, Kevin Burke and Charlie McCoy. Allan has vast experience on the road with major country artists and has graced the stage of the Grand Ole Opry as a sideman. www.athompsonmusic@yahoo.com

Blue Plantation is an acoustic string band specializing in a diverse variety of authentic musical styles. These styles include Bluegrass, Irish, Blues, American Folk, Country, and Jazz. The band is made up of four musicians with a wide background of musical experience and a high level of expertise.  They currently reside and work out of the Charleston, SC area.  www.blueplantation.com