Tim Weed & Mark Robertson-Tessi |
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Tim Weed and Mark Robertson-Tessi have found a unique sound by combining the banjo and mandolin in classical music. Both musicians are highly versatile multi-instrumentalists with strong improvisational backgrounds from years of playing bluegrass and jazz. They perform music together in several genres, but their classical duets are by far the most complex and intriguing of their collaborations. Mark Robertson Tessi has a broad range of musical abilities. In addition to mandolin, he plays bouzouki, tenor banjo, acoustic guitar, electric bass, piano, and organ. In addition, he has won numerous mandolin and guitar champioinships including the National Flatpick Championships and three the Four Corner States Championships. "He's an amazing improviser with an incredibly fast ear," says Weed. Weed began as a teenage prodigy on banjo playing bluegrass music, and in his twenties put the banjo aside to focus on playing the guitar. "When I finally picked up the banjo after 15 years, I was as surprised as anyone else to find classical music pouring out of it," he says. For the next few years he focused on playing, composing, and recording his own banjo music. He has received international acclaim for Milagros, his collection of these banjo works, which is regularly featured on National Public Radio. He is is now recognized as one of the great innovators on the banjo. Most of the collabroations began with Tim's compositions, to which Mark has added his own complementary mandolin parts. They've performed as part of the Arizona Chamber Music Festival and other great places. |
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