Lyquid Amber is the musical collaboration created by Evo Bluestein and Hans York and includes Eva Scow, Kevin Hill and sometimes a larger ensemble. Lyquid Amber music draws from the members’ collective experience in jazz, rock, classical, Brazilian, and Southern Appalachia, to create inspiring new landscapes in music. The music could be called progressive acoustic.

 

Reviewing Lyquid Amber’s CD “Drops of Rain”, Sing Out! magazine reports: “…excellent musicianship, quirky compositions and arrangements, and a warm fusion of bluegrass, folk, blues, jazz and pop.Their sound is centered on Evo Bluestein’s banjo and fiddle, and Hans York’s guitar, striking an enjoyable balance between Pat Metheny’s smooth airiness and Bela Fleck’s aggressive funk.”

About the new cd “Ritual” “From the attractive packaging to the superb production, Lyquid Amber’s “Ritual” is a musical journey bringing together the wide spectrum of seemingly diverse musical influences such as folk, pop, jazz and world and melding them into a harmonius whole. Ably supported by an all-star cast of musicians from the Central Valley of California, the singing, writing and playing talents of Hans York and Evo Bluestein are impressive. The final track, the utterly charming “Down with the Elements” will appeal to anyone with a pop sensibility. A “hit” waiting to happen. Bravo gentlemen!” –Vince DiCiccio, Valley Public Radio, Fresno/Bakersfield “I think this is great stuff, as I expected I would. Man, there’s some phrasing coordination going on here that is amazingly together. And you’ve still got that glooba glooba banjo sound!” – Jody Stecher “It reminds me of 70s Pat Metheny meeting Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and the like. I’m sure I’ll find a place on my shows for your music.” – Kevin Vance, KPFA, KALW radio “It is wonderful, peaceful and grounding. I love it.” – Nada Lewis “Okay, I absolutely love the CD!! After the first cut, I thought, “That’s my favorite.” After the second, third, fourth, I realized it would be impossible to pick a favorite. This is a masterpiece.” – Vic Healy “What a terrific mix of material. It is peaceful and complex at the same time. And I think the simplicity of the title track is a wonderful tapestry upon which the rest of the album seems to be woven.” – Nicolette ..ditto to Vic Healy!! (and everyone else…) it’s a beautiful cd. It is my new “life soundtrack”! D. Parola Based on the original collaborations of Evo Bluestein and Hans York, Lyquid Amber in its full complement includes the incredibly talented Eva Scow (viola, violin, mandolin), Kevin Hill (bass), Dusty Brough (guitar), John Martin III (percussion, vocal) and vocalist Karen Marguth. The music could be called progressive acoustic.

Evo Bluestein employs a myriad of banjo tunings, traditional and original, to compose funky and quirky new music. In the 1970s, he started The Roundtown Boys Oldtime Stringband, and, in the 1980s, he founded Bad Boys Zydeco. He grew up as a member of the Bluestein Family Stringband and has toured throughout the U.S and abroad. His latest solo cd “Off The Top” is avalable at CDBABY.com.

Hans York is a master of DADGAD guitar–a tuning that produces unique harmonies and voicings. As a classically-trained musician, who grew up in Germany, Hannsjoerg studied jazz, rock, and world music traditions. Living in Brazil added to his repertoire of musical styles and rhythms. In addition to composing, Hans is a noted producer and arranger.

Before graduating from high school, Eva Scow began making a name for herself. Besides performing with Lyquid Amber, she can be heard on David Grisman’s latest “Tone Poets” cd or performing Brazilian jazz with Mike Marshall or guitarist Anthony Wilson (Diana Krall).

Jazz bassist Kevin Hill, was born in Texas and grew up in China and West Africa. He began performing at age 12 and has been playing bass since age 16. Kevin studied jazz and contemporary music at The New School in New York. He played in several bands in New York and California.

Dusty Brough and John Martin III come from a Nuevo Flamenco background with the group Cerro Negro. Karen Marguth is a jazz vocalist from the bay area who lives in central California where much of this music germinated. Lyquid Amber music draws from the members’ collective experience in jazz, rock, classical, Brazilian, and Southern Appalachia, to create inspiring new landscapes in music.