Perfect Strangers was formed last year by a mix of established and youthful bluegrass talent. Chris Brashear assembled the players for his recently released album, Wanderlust, and they jelled so well together they decided to continue. Perfect Strangers' presentation is warm and friendly, their repertoire unique, their music marked by spine-tingling harmonies and inventive emotive picking. Chris is a charismatic singer with a high clear voice, a dynamic fiddler, and a songwriter with a penchant for writing memorable, perhaps classic, bluegrass songs on topics other than failed love. A veteran of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys, Bob Black's stunning banjo solos and subtle back-ups are a joy to hear. Jody Stecher, a music innovator of incomparable stature, is a repository of tradition. Jody, who has been a Grammy finalist several times for his work with Kate Brislin sings true bluegrass style and plays mandolin with a beautifully warm tone. Peter McLaughlin is a powerful rhythm and solo guitarist. A veteran of Laurie Lewis's band, Peter is the brother (and original mentor) of David McLaughlin of the Johnson Mountain Boys. Forrest Rose, another Monroe alumnus, plays upright bass with a mighty thump and is Perfect Strangers' erudite MC.