Doc Wallace Trio, Loose Roots Band to Play Brooklyn's Jalopy Theatre

Berklee roots musicians the Doc Wallace Trio and the Loose Roots Band will bring Texas fiddling, swing, and Celtic music to the Jalopy Theatre in Brooklyn on March 13. 

February 11, 2016

The latest shambling, loose-limbed aggregation of Berklee roots musicians to wander south from Boston will arrive at Brooklyn’s Jalopy Theatre on Sunday, March 13. The Doc Wallace Trio, led by champion Texas fiddler and Berklee String chair David “Doc” Wallace headlines the night. Leading off will be the Loose Roots Band, a group of Berklee student virtuosos melding and morphing Celtic styles, to the expected delight of all. The music begins at 7:00 p.m., and tickets are $10. The Jalopy Theatre is at 315 Columbia Street in Brooklyn, between Hamilton and Woodhull.  

The Doc Wallace Trio has been thrilling listeners with its unique blend of jazzy Texas-style fiddling and swing since its first performance in 1999. Leader David “Doc” Wallace, a prize-winning Texas fiddler, is equally acclaimed as a classical musician. Electric guitarist Dana Scofidio has performed with artists as diverse as Bo Diddley and children’s composer John Farrell, and chairs the Guitar Department at the Music School of Westchester. Acoustic guitarist Daniel Levy has performed throughout the country, and has composed more than 40 original scores for theater productions, including the Manhattan Ensemble Theater, La Mama, Juilliard, and dozens more.

The trio’s presenters include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Midori & Friends, Young Audiences, the New York Philharmonic, the Baggot Inn, HERE Arts Center, and the Levitt Pavilion. Never content to let music remain in the clubs or the concert halls, the Doc Wallace Trio is committed to engagement with underserved communities, and actively brings its artistry to schools, hospitals, psychiatric facilities, homeless shelters, houses of worship, and correctional facilities.   

The Loose Roots Band is composed of four of the Berklee String Department’s most talented current students. Directed by faculty member and Scotland native Maeve Gilchrist—not with the group at the Jalopy show—the group explores the music of Scotland, Ireland, and Cape Breton. With great respect to the tradition, the ensemble deconstructs the tunes and grooves of these Celtic countries and uses some of the traditional elements to create a brand-new sound of its own.

Coming from their own respective musical traditions, the ensemble members feature students from North America and Canada. On mandolin, Jake Howard (of Munroe Falls, Ohio) grew up listening to bluegrass music, while Sarah Hubbard (of western Massachusetts) was drawn towards the Klezmer fiddle style. Gabriel Dubrieul (of Vancouver, British Columbia) on fiddle, and Benjamin Knorr (of Saskatchewan) on guitar grew up immersed in the rich fiddle traditions so closely related to Scotland and Ireland. Together they create a unique sound of their own.