Double Play

DOUBLE PLAY

Photography by Jim Stannard

Cathy Kreger and Jon Swift

With skillful guitar work and a beautifully strong, compelling voice, Cathy Kreger has performed for more than 30 years in the New York City area and the Northeast, appearing in venues such as IMAC, The Katherine Hepburn Theater, Chapin Rainbow Stage, and Silver Cloud Bluegrass Festival. She has released four CDs and has opened for world-class acts including Bonnie Raitt, David Bromberg, The Band, Patty Larkin, Maria Muldaur, Taj Mahal, Aztec Two-Step, and more.Cathy has a unique right-hand guitar style that captures the full sound of a band (bass, backing rhythm, and riffs, all interspersed). With a voice that can span 3½ octaves riding above the “groove” of her strikingly full guitar work, she delivers a sound that tells listeners they are hearing something special. Cathy is a good electric bass player as well, and recently she has also been developing impressive skills on the upright bass. She lives in Portland, Connecticut.

Jon Swiftwas a founding member of the popular Connecticut-based acoustic bluegrass band Traver Hollow, playing bass and singing with that group in the ‘80s and early ‘90s and traveling across much of the U.S. as well as various parts of Canada and western Europe. They opened numerous times for Bill Monroe (the Father of Bluegrass), and for other bluegrass luminaries such as Doc Watson, the Seldom Scene, Hot Rize, and the Johnson Mountain Boys, and they shared the stage with countless major acts at festivals. Traver Hollowreleased four studio albums and a live album from Holland. Jonhas also played guitar for years, performing solo in many Connecticutacoustic venues and with the acoustic duos BluesGrass and Deep Ellum. His musical style is a “roots music” blend of blues, bluegrass, traditional folk, and pop oldies. Jon lives in Durham, Connecticut.

Now, these two experienced performers combine their varied musical abilities, styles, and interests in a fresh new duo that features both of them on guitar, bass, and vocals. The double bass is the instrument that brought them together as a duo, and each of them play it, as reflected in their name. Their love and respect for the music they make is evident in their playing and singing, providing an interesting and enjoyable experience for listeners.

This concert and other Buttonwood Tree events brought to you by our generous donors and patrons, and the following community organizations: