Press
Award-winning North Carolina fiddler announces debut record
NASHVILLE, TN (April 30, 2019) — Award-winning fiddler and recent Berklee graduate, Julian Pinelli has announced the upcoming release of his debut recording, Bent Creek. Engineered by Dan Cardinal at Dimension Sound Studios, Bent Creek features six original fiddle tunes and two covers of traditional songs played by an award-winning ensemble selected by Pinelli for their creativity and expressiveness. The core group of Tristan Scroggins (mandolin), Matt Davis (banjo), Sam Leslie (guitar),and Dan Klingsberg (bass) were coached through the session by Aoife O’Donovan (Crooked Still, I’m With Her). Aoife has said “Julian’s fiddle playing is unique and joyful, a rare mix of technical precision and soul. I was immediately struck by his musicianship, and his flexibility to be both a leader and an ensemble player."
● Full record to be released on May 31st
Sprung from the music of southern Appalachia, Julian is a free-spirited violinist who spins deep tone with modern ease. Awarded the 2016 Fresh Grass Fiddle Award and winner of the 2017 RockyGrass fiddle competition , Julian has toured extensively with cellist Ben Sollee and progressive bluegrass outfit Front Country . Julian spent his childhood surrounded by many iconic acoustic musicians in Asheville, NC including fiddler Bobby Hicks – whose smooth and lush sound has had a big impact on Julian’s playing.
Julian has spent the past 4 years in Boston attending Berklee College of Music with the help of the Fletcher Bright Award and Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival’s Bill Vernon Memorial Scholarship. During his time in Boston, Julian has made an impression on the music scene as “ one of the most exciting fiddlers in this new generation of musicians who can play just about anything " as Darol Anger puts it.
"I love Julian’s inventive melodies and arrangements on this recording. He and his incredible cohorts have created a smooth and totally compelling soundscape. Great music!"
-Bruce Molsky