The Pine Needles

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"Mountain Jazz"!
“The Pine Needles” are able to adjust their style to a variety of events from wineries to festivals. The band takes the string band sound in various directions, from traditional to modern acoustic and beyond. Currently performing on the West Coast and making demos for their first full-length CD, the group explores original and classic jam improvisations, swing jazz, world music, acoustic rock & popular music, historic folk, old time fiddle music, and you name it. “The Pine Needles” formed out of a love for mountain-style string band instruments and the musical textures they afford across genres. Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter Josh Needleman has performed on stage and recorded with many top flight musicians including David Grisman, Joe Craven, Don Cherry, Matt Butler, Archie Williams, Collage of i, Lucas Arts, Scribe, Nina Gerber, Carl Locket, Kit Walker and Symphony Parnassus. Add award-winning old time and jazz mandolin- and fiddle-player Morgan Meadow to the line up, and you have the basic ingredients for a rich tapestry of mandolin and guitar music. Morgan has shared the stage with many great musicians, such as Kenny Hall, Jim Kweskin, Maria Muldaur, David Grisman, John Sebastian, and Dan Hicks. He is the founder of Skiffle Symphony jug and string band and has recorded two CDs with old-time master mandolinist Kenny Hall. Born in Jordan, percussionist Rami Ziadeh began studying Dumbeck at age three. By age ten Rami was performing with Middle Eastern dance groups and on radio broadcasts in Zerqua Jordan. At fifteen, Rami moved with his family to the United States. He continued his musical education by studying trap set drums with Roy Burns and the late Tony Williams, Tabla with the renowned Sri Swapan Chaduri and majored in music performance at the California Institute of the Arts. On the Cajon, Rami brings a unique style that combines Middle Eastern finger techniques with traditional Flamenco techniques. Currently, Rami is studying Classical Indian Vocals with Pandit Laxmi G. Tewari. Rami has recorded and performed with Pakistani world beat group “Ali Kahn”, flamenco guitarist Mark Taylor, the “Desert Wind” Middle Eastern Fusion Ensemble, and with jazz legend Pharoah Sanders for the Alanzo King Ballet Company. He has accompanied flamenco dance artist: La Tanya, La Fibi Aire Flamenco, Alma Flamenca, and Sol Flamenco other Bay Area Flamenco Artist. High-intensity low-end from up-and-coming upright bassist Tristan Arnold keeps the beat going in this fine, fun, and evolving acoustic ensemble... Enjoy!