Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
This band has no press
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
If Bela Fleck is a fine German clock, Steve Lutke is a freight train. Whether he's knocking you over with hard-hitting, J.D. Crow-inspired licks, or conjuring the tranquil, bluesy soul of pianist George Winston, Lutke's music never lacks intensity. Hailing from the northern mountains of New Jersey, Lutke's 40-year love affair with the five-string banjo has led him to stages around the world as, among many others, Vassar Clements's side man, and as heavy artillery for Austin's punk/psychograss outfit, Killbilly.
While his resume is impressive, it's Lutke's simultaneous loyalty to traditional bluegrass and his search for new textures that separates the sound of Appalachian Uprising from most modern bluegrass ensembles. The band jumps at the chance to incorporate a gritty Ventures instrumental into their set, or to adapt a Mozart melody into a bluegrass setting. Lutke's rich and distinctive instrumental compositions, some of which appear on his latest album entitled Appalachian Uprising, are a testament to his edgy creative spirit. They range from wildly maniacal roller coaster rides to tranquil and reflective soundscapes.
Steve Lutke and Appalachian Uprising is a group that is not afraid to take chances, who trade the security of a polished, homogenized sound for the freedom of a jazz ensemble. With freedom comes responsibility, and while Lutke is not afraid to step out on a limb stylistically, the band never loses sight of the original spirit of the bluegrass greats.
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