Sabra Guzman profile picture

Sabra Guzman

About Me

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"...a classic, country voice..."


Player and Teacher of Old Time Music along with a bit of Honky Tonk and early country, among other American Roots Music.
Sabra Guzman remembers beginning her musical journey as a youngster, banging away at the piano in Long Beach, CA. She began venturing into American Roots music when she found herself drawn to the guitar-styles and voices of country musicians such as Lefty Frizzell and Mother Maybelle Carter. Soon, with a guitar in one hand and a banjo uke in the other, she was off to France and Switzerland to partake in the old art of busking. Now, on the Eastern Seaboard, as she rests for a moment in Rockingham County, VA, Sabra continues to indulge in this roots music, working with guitar, stand-up bass and old time harmonies. Sabra has played with West Coast groups like The Crooked Jades and The Mercury Dimes, and most recently toured with Vermont's The Flat Iron String Band.
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"Hard Times in the Country has a good variety of tunes and songs from different sources.
The harmony vocals between Sabra Guzman and J.P. Harris are something special;
they're strong and confident with elegant lines and nicely crafted harmonies,
and the stark backup is just the right contrast to set off the voices.
The instrumental tunes are well-played with energy and a danceable beat."
- Brad Leftwich
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 27/04/2007
Band Members:

** Blind Tiger String Band **

Brett Ratliff (Banjo/Vocals) , Sabra Guzman (Bass/Guitar/Uke/Vocals), Anna Roberts-Gevalt (Fiddle/Vocals) , John Haywood (Guitar/Banjo/Vocals)

** Flat Iron String Band **

Nick Stillman (fiddle) , J.P. Harris (banjo/Vocals/Squash) , Sabra Guzman (guitar/bass/uke), Amanda Kowalski (bass/feet/photographs) .

** Sabra & Alex **

Alex Caton (fiddle/guitar/banjo/vox) , Sabra Guzman (guitar/uke/vox).

** Duo with Chance McCoy **

Influences: Some of the recordings I've lost myself in:

the Original Carter Family, Mother Maybelle's Carter Scratch
Carter Bros. and Son, The Skillet Lickers, Lowe Stokes, the Red Hots
the Hell Benders, Tom Brad & Alice, Troublesome Creek
the Louvin Brothers, Delmore Bros., Monroe Bros
Skip James, Howlin' Wolf, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Mingus, John Coltrane
the Callahan Bros, Ray Price, Kitty Wells, Doc Watson
Stanley Brothers, Ola Belle Reed, George Jones, Willie Nelson
Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, The Roches

Some of my friends and teachers:

Jody Stecher for voice
Evie Ladin for dance
Matt Knoth for guitar and movie quotes
Rick Martin for a fiddle lesson
Eddie Kempworth for electric bass
Devin Champlin for finger pickin'
Ginny Hawker & Tracy Schwarz for harmonies

And for those I just get down with:

Collin Gallahue, Ben Guzman, Kelly Martin, Alex Caton, Michelle Yu, Aaron Olwell, Joe Bass, Nick Stillman, Squash, J.P. Harris, Amanda Kowalski, Mary Jane Epps, Antoine Guerlain, Zach Blatter, Anna Roberts- Gevalt, Bailey Cooke, Hannah Johnson, Harmonica Blowin' Bill, Aviva, Keezeltown Throwdowns, Mike Heinle, Zach Pozebanchuck, Mecca and Adam Lowe, Jessie Downs, le Fox Hunt, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Colin Vance, the Nelson Family, The Fitzpatrick Brothers, Joe Mead of Charlottesville, John Murphy, Lorie Lichtenwalner, Dan Rublee, Lew Burrus, Marc Perdue, Kate Chaitin, Keith Terry, Allison Williams, Ben Townsend, Gabrielle Macrae, the Macrae's, Jamie Herrmann, Jordan Ruyle, Elise Engleberg, the Gallus Brothers...

Gosh... you get the picture, right?

Sounds Like: Some live footage of Flat Iron String Band:

"Breakin' Up Christmas/Cotton-Eyed Joe" Live at Fred's Feed and Seed, Waverly Alabama. Feb 28, 2009.

"Down in the Willow Garden" Live at Fred's Feed and Seed. Waverly, AL. Feb 28, 2009.
Record Label: Yodel - Ay - Hee
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Photo Log of Flat Iron String Band Winter Tour 2009

You can check out some photos through this link:http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=52875&id=55317339 1&l=27f55582ce
Posted by on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:12:00 GMT

Old-Time Herald Review

Light and Hitch Old-Time String BandThe Flat Iron String BandOld-Time Herald Review, Vol. 11, Number 10April - May 2009For many years now, recordings of old-time music have diverged sharply between ...
Posted by on Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:11:00 GMT

End of Tour Throw Down!!

Well hello good folks,Sabra here giving you a quick update.It's true... my time of traveling is nearing completion.And we are on our last home stretch, and nearing central VA each and every day.We hav...
Posted by on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:23:00 GMT

A New Adventure....

Gentle-ladies and -men!************************************************First off...HAPPY WINTER to all!I hope that the season is bringing you good times & memories, with warmth(for those who might be ...
Posted by on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:16:00 GMT