Crooked Still
Redefining Bluegrass 
by Richard Cuccaro
 
 

A bolt of lightning has struck deep into the heart of Kentucky. The sound of a Baroque 
thunderclap from north of the Mason Dixon Line has given the South a new look at 
bluegrass and thousands of uninitiated folkies an introduction they'll never forget.

The jagged streak splitting the sky is called Crooked Still.

Four twenty-something musical prodigies, Aoife O'Donovan on vocals and guitar, 
Rushad Eggleston on Cello, Gregory Liszt on banjo and Corey DiMaurio on double 
bass are causing audiences to gasp in wonder and delight. Greg's banjo and Corey's 
bass form a high and low phalanx around the middle tones of Aoife's vocals and Rushad's cello
.
The departure from the usual occurs with Rushad's cello negotiating fiddle licks with an 
alternating high voice and then a low sonorous tone. He executes the cello's runs with a fiery 
passion. For added effect, he then adds voice-like phrasings -- from squeals of delight to low 
moans of pleasure or sorrow.

 
Normally, if a group features a vocalist with the face of a Celtic angel and whose voice reminds 
listeners of Alison Krauss, audiences wouldn't be able to take their eyes off her.
However, Rushad's ferocious bowing style, bobbing torso, and occasional mischievous interactions
provide a contrasting visual counterpoint.
The live act, as with their debut CD, Hop High, often begins with with "Darling Cory" The high, 
keening treble sound of Greg's banjo joins with Aoife's breathy, gently soaring alto.
When the low, muscular thrum of Rushad's cello kicks in, the effect sends chills up this author's 
spine (and everywhere else, I might as well add).    


An especially moving sonic treat is the band's rendition of Gillian Welch's "Orphan Girl." 
Normally done as a slow-moving piece by Welch and others, Crooked Still attacks the 
song with a driving tempo that produces surprised shivers of ecstasy in audiences. Their 
fearlessness in attacking any song with speed and precision belies the fact that they've only 
been touring as a group for one year. Their training provides a clue as to why. Corey and Aoife 
graduated from The New England Conservatory of Music, while Rushad was the first string 
student admitted to Boston's Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship. Greg's credentials 
include, as the Crooked Still web site states, "a novel four-fingered picking technique that turns 
the banjo into a funky rhythm instrument as well as a smooth soloing tool." That would explain 
why the author hears jazz inflections in those solos. Also from the web site: "He has been 
featured in Banjo Newsletter and has recently attained notoriety for his unique style of banjo rapping."


Beginnings


Aoife spent her childhood in Newton, Massachusetts. Her parents were 
musicians.  She grew up in a folk-heavy household. Her early singing experience was in choir 
in the public school system all through elementary and high school.

Corey grew up in Northboro, Massachusetts. He started playing clarinet in public school  in the 
fourth grade. He switched to the bass in high school.


Greg states that from age four to fifteen he "failed at several conventional instruments including 
harmonica." It was in the middle of high school that he thought, "It must be fun to play the banjo." 
He adds, and the results attest, "Luckily, it is."


There were signs early on that Rushad was special. At one-and one-half years of age, he put on a 
children's record for his brother to listen to. As a toddler, while listening to Beethoven, he would 
pretend to conduct an orchestra. At age three, his parents started him on violin lessons. He switched 
to cello when he was nine.

Getting together
Rushad was studying at Berklee when he met Greg. They got together to play bluegrass. Aoife was 
involved in "Third Stream," a subset genre of jazz, world and folk music created by Gunther Schuller, 
a former president at the New England Conservatory of Music. Corey was attending the Conservatory 
with his girlfriend, the highly regarded fiddler Lissa Schneckenburger. Corey was playing jazz. It was 
at one of Lissa's recitals that the four met. They began jamming together. In September of 2001, the 
group was born when Aoife put together an informal concert at the Conservatory. They played 
"Darling Cory." They began performing as a local band, playing around the Boston area at places like 
the Cantab Lounge. They called themselves Crooked Still, for reasons stated by Corey: "Greg thought 
up the name. There's no real story other than that we liked the way the two words sounded together 
and that a still is a common image in southern old-time music. There is also a bit of a play on words 
with 'Crooked Still/Still Crooked' and somehow that relates to our approach to this music a bit." 

They began touring in 2004 and have performed across the United States and Canada as well as in Ireland. 
They loved Ireland and there's no doubt that Ireland loved them. Aoife has relatives there. They plan on 
going back in January 2006.

The author was fortunate to have seen Crooked Still at this year's New Bedford (MA) Summerfest  
as well as Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. They were easily the biggest hit at Summerfest, dazzling audiences 
with their musicianship and command of traditional material and their ability to embellish on it. 
Falcon Ridge was a homecoming of sorts. They'd created a buzz the year before and this year's audience 
was ready and eager to welcome them back with adulation. Of course, they didn't disappoint. 
Aoife's voice was characteristic in its softness with strength at its core. The musical passages from 
Rushad's mind to his fingertips seemed to flow like breathing. Greg's banjo was peppery and vibrant. 
Corey's bass was intense and rock solid. 

Energetic and busy
All the members of Crooked Still maintain a rigorous schedule, working on and performing with 
other bands and projects.
Aoife is a member of the Wayfaring Strangers and has also performed with Seamus Egan, Winifred Horan, 
and Darol Anger. 
Greg also performs with the Wayfaring Strangers and the Jake Armerding Band. He is currently working 
on his Ph.D. in Biology at MIT, where he researches the molecular and cellular basis of aging.
Corey has recorded with Laura Cortese and Hanneke Cassel and is a member of the Lissa Schneckenburger Band. 
Additionally, he has performed with Liz Carroll, Russ Barenberg, and McCoy Tyner.
Rushad performs regularly with the Grammy-nominated Fiddlers 4 as well as Darol Anger's American Fiddle 
Ensemble. He also leads his Wild Band of Snee, performing songs and instrumentals for children. 

Greg lives in Boston, finishing his Ph.D. at M.I.T. (How many banjo pickers can make that claim?) 
Aoife, Corey, and Rushad live in Brooklyn, NY these days. That explains how the series of gigs came 
about that Aoife did, not long ago, with Ruth Ungar of the Mammals at the tiny Sidewalk Cafe in the East Village. 
The author is still keenly disappointed that we did not see any of them. While it's unlikely, we're hoping for 
another chance. The group is playing Joe's Pub on August 3rd. and Acoustic Live will definitely be there. 
Anyone who wants to watch history in the making and see a great group will be there too.

Web site: www.crookedstill.com
Upcoming appearances include:
Aug. 3     9:30pm Joe's Pub  New York, NY  with Jim and Jennie and The Pinetops   $15
Aug. 4     Upper Valley Events Center   Norwich, VT 
Aug. 5-6    Champlain Valley Folk Festival   Ferrisburg, VT 
Aug. 13    L.L. Bean Summer Concert Series    Freeport, ME
Aug. 14    LITMA Fiddle Festival   Smithtown, NY 
Aug. 26-27    Philadelphia Folk Festival   Schwenksville, PA 
Aug. 28    Knowlton Riverfest   Knowlton, NJ 
Aug. 30   Aspen Meadows House Concert   Nederland, CO