The Freight presets a special evening featuring these two world renowned banjo players (and good friends) performing solo pieces and duets as well as hot original bluegrass backed by the revitalized contemporary band Due West, who is making their Bay Area debut in this performance. A leading architect of progressive banjo music, Tony Trischka's travels have taken him from bluegrass bands and avant garde jazz groups to symphony orchestras and percussion ensembles, recording and performing with such folks as David Grisman, Alison Krauss, Natalie Merchant, Bela Fleck, and Psychograss. Tony's concert runs through a fast-paced, humor-laden history of the instrument that provides authentic tastes of the banjo's African American roots, mid-19th century string band music, 1920s "mountain music," and the mid-20th century innovations of Earl Scruggs, before closing with originals as well as bluegrass, classical, rock, and jazz standards. Tony has recorded ten solo albums -- most recently, Glory Shone Around. East Bay resident Bill Evans' new CD Bill Evans Plays Banjo, a project of original bluegrass instrumentals, has just been named as one of the Top 10 Bluegrass releases of 2001 by David Royko of the Chicago Tribune. Bill will be performing selections from this recording backed by Due West as well as playing historical duets from the 19th and 20th centuries with Tony, utilizing a variety of vintage instruments. Founded by guitarist Jim Nunally and mandolin player Erik Thomas over a decade ago, Due West's new lineup includes Bill on banjo, along with bassist Cindy Brown (from Wake the Dead) and fiddle phenom Chad Clouse. Capable of everything from driving traditional bluegrass to the fringes of new acoustic music, the re-emergence of this exciting band is great news for West Coast bluegrass fans.