Jef: Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, Eddie Jefferson, Lambert Hendrix and Ross, Joni Mitchell, Al Green, Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, Bill Monroe, Peter Rowan, Huddy Ledbetter, (and more that Jef can add... )
Barb: Eduardo Fiorelli, my ever-musical parents, Isaac Stern, Yehudi Menuhin, Itzak Perlman, Stuff Smith, Papa John Creach, Joe Venuti, Stuart Duncan, Byron Berline, Bobby Hicks, Emory Lester, Mick Nicholson, Paul Anastasio, Tom Russell, Maxine-Karen Johnson, Sandy Silva, Jennifer Scott, Joe Baque, Tim O'Brien, Darrell Scott, Steve Earle, Laurie Lewis, and Harry Bowron and many others.
Lead vocalist, Jef Ramsey, plays rhythm guitar and mandolin and has a long history of playing with top bands around the Northwest. For many years he has intrepidly challenged himself to walk an expansive terrain of musical repertoire. He is an awe-inspiring vocalist who can sing with respect to the spirit and energy of Cab Calloway, or deliver a mournful ballad with astonishing flexibility.
Barbara Collins, is an improvising contemporary violinist, who has been playing from the age of four. Classically trained at Northwestern University, she developed a solid foundation from which she chose to diversify. As a professional, her versatility has enabled her to play many different genres of music as well as offer a more expansive variety of material to her private students. Her most recent endeavors have included eastern European folk, a varied pallet of American music--blues, swing and jazz along with folk, old time and bluegrass. At other times she cherishes the opportunity to perform her original compositons for audiences as well. Mandolin is a new addition that adds texture her material and her collaborations with partner Jef Ramsey.
Overall their flexible duo offer unique nuances from a mingling of styles appealing to a wide audience. Having many years working closely with Jef, Barbara has developed very tight and smooth blending vocal harmonies which work excelptionally well in complementing his powerfully compelling lead vocals.
