By any measure, the Claire Lynch Band is high on the bluegrass world's A-List, with musicians whose accolades include International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Female Vocalist of the Year and two Grammy nominations for Best Bluegrass Album (Claire); two IBMA Guitar Player of the Year awards (Jim Hurst); and two IBMA Bass Player of the Year awards (Mark Schatz).

Claire's musical direction dates back to the days of the Front Porch String Band, resulting in a seasoned sound that is simultaneously unpretentious and richly textured. It's a down-home, front porch sensibility—until you realize that it's a rare front porch, indeed, that has ever hosted musicians of this caliber. Jim Hurst throws out impossible leads effortlessly, and the band is grounded by bassist Mark Schatz's deft touch and masterful instinct for groove. Toronto native Jason Thomas brings monster chops on fiddle and mandolin, supported by remarkable musical versatility and imagination that have made him instantly at home in one of the greatest bluegrass bands currently on the scene.

Dolly Parton credits Claire with "one of the sweetest, purest and best lead voices in the music business today." Claire's harmonies have graced the recordings of many stellar musicians, from Ralph Stanley to Linda Ronstadt. Equally gifted as a songwriter, her songs have been recorded by The Seldom Scene, Patty Loveless, Kathy Mattea, Cherryholmes, The Whites and others.

Since March 2006 the Claire Lynch Band has been touring with a moving and impressive CD, "New Day" and in October 2007, Rounder released a new CD titled "Crowd Favorites - A Claire Lynch Collection". Songs include many favorites from her five Rounder projects, along with four Front Porch String Band classics newly recorded by the Claire Lynch Band.

About Claire Lynch
Claire Lynch has long been recognized as a creative influence in bluegrass music – first for her early years with Alabama’s Front Porch String Band (which was labeled as “a musical force to be reckoned with” by John Starling), and later for her superb singing and songwriting which have been recorded on five projects for Rounder Records. Two of those recordings were nominated for the Grammys and, among her many other nominations, a win was scored for “Female Vocalist of the Year” with IBMA in 1997.

In 2006, after a six-year hiatus from touring, she landed on her feet again with New Day which enjoyed a run on the Bluegrass Album Chart reaching #2, while “Train Long Gone” topped the Bluegrass Song Chart at #1 for two consecutive months. Much of the credit was due to her touring and recording mates who comprise the Claire Lynch Band and are award-winners themselves.

Although Claire’s songwriting is an undeniable gift, it’s her “captivating”, “hillbilly angel” voice which has landed her spots on recordings from Linda Ronstadt to Dolly Parton and many in between. As one reviewer observed, “Claire’s is one of those rare voices which instantly reveals a beautiful personality and allows her to speak directly to your heart..."

Jim Hurst
Guitar & Vocals
Born in Middlesboro, Kentucky, Jim Hurst was raised in a home of "down-home values" from mother Frances Hurst and musical influences from his father Ed Hurst, uncle Eldin Hurst, and later his older brother Al. Years earlier, Jim's family had migrated to Toledo, Ohio, but were visiting in Kentucky when Jim was born. "I guess my timing was right, I'm proud to be a Kentuckian" Jim said. Although Jim lived and went to school in Toledo, he spent most of his summers in the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee.

Jim grew up with a guitar in his hands. "I still have my first guitar, a Gene Autry Silvertone with a cowboy ridin' on the front. I got that as a present from my uncle Lee Rose for Christmas when I was 4 years old." On the weekends, his family played music for fun, often inviting many pickers and friends to their home.

Jim soon started listening to music on records (remember them?) and the radio. "I think Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Don Reno and Red Smiley, as well as some country music stars were my earliest influences." Later came the influences of Clarence White, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed and Tony Rice. "I listened to each guitarist with a fresh ear." Although flatpicking is a large part of bluegrass guitar, Jim first started learning to play finger-style. "Merle Travis and Chet Atkins made me take a turn in the road." But Jim considers his biggest influence to be Jerry Reed.

Jim has played many different kinds of music including bluegrass, country, rock and blues with several different bands. He has also worked with country artists: The McCarter Sisters, Holly Dunn, Trisha Yearwood, and Sara Evans as well as Grammy-nominee and IBMA Female Vocalist Of The Year, Claire Lynch. He has recorded with Sara Evans on her 1998 RCA release "No Place That Far" and also with Claire Lynch on her 1998 Grammy nominated Rounder release "Silver And Gold".

Jim's new solo release "Second Son" available now on Pinecastle Records, is a blend of many new songs from great songwriters, a few classic songs arranged and adapted by Jim and original compositions and/or arrangements. He is quickly becoming known as one of the most versatile guitarists and vocalists in the business, and this recording displays some of the reasons he is considered among the best. As writer and co-writer of three of the songs included, Jim also arranged and produced the project. Engineered by Ben Surratt, this CD features songs penned by the likes of David Norris, Claire Lynch and Jennifer Kimball, Tim Stafford, the Louvin Brothers, a song Jim co-wrote with Steve Hylton, and two originals by Jim.

Mark Schatz
Bass
Mark is a prominent figure in the new acoustic music scene. Twice named IBMA Bass Player of the Year, he has worked and/or recorded with an impressive variety of artists including Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Maura O'Connell, Tony Rice, John Hartford, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Tim & Mollie O'Brien and most recently, Nickel Creek. He also acts as Musical Director for the internationally-acclaimed Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, which showcases his other talents - clawhammer banjo and Southern Appalachian clog dancing.

He has two solo recordings, Brand New Old Tyme Way & Steppin' in the Boilerhouse, both on Rounder Records. He's also released two instructional bass videos on Homespun.

Jason Thomas
Mandolin, Fiddle & Vocals
Jason Thomas is an award winning multi-instrumentalist, playing a wide range of musical styles primarily on fiddle and mandolin. He was born in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, and started on mandolin at the age of eight, learning from his dad, Bob Thomas, and playing bluegrass and gospel music with his family band in southern Ontario.

Jason began studying violin at age twelve, having private violin lessons for just one year, and then he continued to study a variety of fiddle styles, largely self-taught. During high school, he also picked up guitar, banjo, bass, and viola, as well as starting his own band. He won a few contests, including winning the Canadian Open Mandolin Championship, and twice winning the Florida State Championship on both fiddle and mandolin. He studied violin and Music Education at Evangel College in Springfield, MO.

Since college, Jason has been a full-time professional musician, having toured extensively across the country and overseas. He has made his home in Central Florida since 1984, where he has primarily made his living playing in many bands at the major attractions and hotels in the area. He enjoys the wide variety of music he has had the chance to play, from bluegrass to blues, Celtic to country, gypsy jazz to folk/Americana, Cajun to Western Swing.

Always the "team player," he strives to provide tasteful and supportive back-up and solos, which has enabled him to work with some incredibly talented singers and bands. He does frequent studio work in Orlando, and has been featured on many recordings and on national television. He was a featured fiddler on Mark Johnson's Clawgrass album, along with Tony Rice and the Rice Brothers. He was featured on a cut on Ben Winship's and David Thompson's "Fishing Music" CD project, along with David Grier, Matt Flinner, and Rob Ickes.

Jason is excited to have recently joined Grammy nominated artist Claire Lynch in the Claire Lynch Band, along with award winning musicians Jim Hurst and Mark Schatz. Jason has been seen sitting in with many other notable musicians such as Vassar Clements, Sam Bush, Tim O'Brien, Byron Berline, Aubrey Haynie, Open Road, Mitch Corbin, and The Growling Old Men, among others.

Jason can be seen gigging with several other bands - check these out: Kane's River: www.kanesriver.com, VTW: www.gatorbone.com and click on VTW, Off Kilter: www.offkilter.net, Showdown: www.showdownorlando.com, Under The Radar: www.undertheradar-band.com, The Scott Anderson Band: www.scottandersonmusic.com , Catahoula Blue: www.bethmckee.com, The Porchdogs: www.theporchdogs.com, The Rodeo Rhythm Kings: www.rodeorhythmkings.com, Dave Durham & the Bull Durham Band, Gypsy Wind: www.gypsywindband.com, US1, Handpicked, Rusty Cutlass, Stevedores, The Notorious Banjo Brothers. When he's not playing, Jason loves spending time with his family - his wife, Beth and their son Jacob (3 years old). He also loves to dabble in graphic arts, learning from his wife Beth, who is a multiple award winning designer, having designed CD covers for Dan Tyminski, The Lonesome River Band, Ricky Simpkins, and more. Jason won a design award himself in 2003 from Graphic Design USA magazine for his design of the CD cover of the Kane's River project, Same River Twice. Jason can also be seen here and there teaching fiddle or mandolin at some of the music camps around the country. In his non-existent spare time, Jason can be found tinkering with fiddles or remodeling his recently purchased 1920's Craftsman home in the quaint downtown historic district of Winter Garden, Florida. Jason proudly endorses