Alex & BB: National Tour

If you've ever heard the sound of a banjo, then you might very well quiver at the thought of two being played together. At the same time. Alex & BB redefine this vision, with their exquisite combo of 5-string banjo and Irish tenor banjo.

These two young banjo virtuosos, Alex Borwick and Catherine "BB" Bowness , provide fresh insight into an instrument often associated with country folk, duels, and the Beverley Hillbillies. Audiences will have a chance to hear their unique musical interpretations during their 2011 nationwide tour.

"We've been playing together over the last 18 months exploring everything from Bach to Queen, and are looking forward to the opportunity to take our sound to some other parts of New Zealand," says Alex. "We have an eclectic range of influences between us ranging from genres like jazz, bluegrass and Celtic, to more unusual tastes such as Balkan, tango, and 80s pop." To date they have been guests at several major folk festivals around New Zealand, and have performed at numerous venues around the North Island.

In November 2010, Alex & BB released the EP, 'Play Banjo', a small offering of their musical ventures so far. The EP received strong critical acclaim, NZ Musician Magazine said: "They work together so well it's almost like hearing one 9-string banjo played by a four-handed banjo demon".

Alex is a multi-instrumentalist, whose versatility and musicianship lends to a multitude of genres. His portfolio as a composer, performer and session musician ranges from playing trombone for artists such Roger Fox, Grada, Nathan King, Jesse Sheehan, and The Rooftop Collective to playing crazy, quirky banjo with contemporary folk trio Forbidden Joe and composing music for children's song books.

BB has played banjo since she was 12 years old. Her talent was evident from early on and led her to study with some well-respected players in the USA. She was the winner of the 2006 Uncle Dave Macon Banjo Contest and at the tender age of 20, BB is the first ever musician to complete a Jazz degree at the NZ school of music.. on banjo! BB's skilfulness on her instrument has led to her touring North America with bluegrass band Long Road Home and young Australasian trio Twisted Oak.

Both Alex and BB continue to hone their craft and study their instrument to learn how to take it to new, undefined boundaries with regular trips overseas to study from other banjo virtuosos. Together, they work on gathering material old and new to combine into new pieces for their instruments, including a few songs, which they aim to present and play in a way that is different to what they have heard before and in turn, offering a new perspective on what the banjo can do.

In concert they reveal an intellectually stimulating array of performance pieces. "It's hard not to pay tribute to all our influences. They draw together in our playing and create a journey through a variety of different styles and soundscapes all of which the banjo portrays differently," explains Alex. "Our original compositions are an extension of this, fusing together these different genres and creating new pieces for the banjo which we hope show it in a new, graceful light." All this, presented with the duo's vibrant energy and emphasis on enjoying what they do, is a sight worth seeing.

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Tour Dates

Nov 17 - Biddy Mulligan's, Hamilton, $15/$10
Nov 18 - Wellington Bluegrass Society, Petone, $10, www.huttcity.com/wellingtonbluegrass
Nov 19 - Bent Horseshoe Cafe, Palmerston North, $15, www.benthorseshoe.co.nz
Nov 20 - Koitiata Community Hall, $5
Nov 23 - Fairfield House, Nelson $15, www.fairfieldnelson.org.nz
Nov 24 - Frank's, Greymouth
Nov 25 - NBS Theatre, Westport, www.nbstheatre.co.nz
Nov 26 - The Riverhouse, Wanaka
Nov 27 - New Edinburgh Folk Club, Dunedin, www.nefc.org.nz
Nov 30 - The Mussel Inn, Takaka, $10, www.musselinn.co.nz
Dec 1 - Le Cafe, Picton, $10, www.lecafepicton.co.nz
Dec 2 - Wanganui Musicians Club, $10/$5, www.wanganuimusiciansclub.co.nz
Dec 3 - Hastings Operatic Society Theatre, Hastings, $15 Tickets from Keith Gosney 06 877 7536
Dec 9 - Whangarei Old Library Arts Centre, $20, www.facebook.com/oldlibrary
Dec 11 - The Devonport Folk Club, The Bunker, Auckland, $15, www.devonportfolkmusic.co.nz

What people are saying about Alex & BB:

"Their compositions, while steeped in the traditions, are technically interesting, inventive and just a little offbeat." - President of the Wellington Folk Festival

"This exhilarating EP is truly something else" - Hidden Treasures, National Radio

"With a delicacy of touch that's most unexpected from banjo players" - NZ Musician Magazine

"Twin Banjo Onslaught" - Oparau Acoustic Music Festival