The Scooches (formerly Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches) debut album: Very Next Thing 

Release date: September 30, 2016

“Unfailingly high-spirited.” LONDON TIMES

“Nick Russo has worked with artists all over the jazz spectrum. His latest release brings a decidedly unorthodox approach.” DOWNBEAT (✮✮✮✮)

New York City’s Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches are likely the only band infusing elements of Gullah-Geechee culture with folk traditions, New Orleans influences, and music from the 1920s. Their brand new album, Very Next Thing, includes 10 songs.

Gullah-Geechee was developed by Africans on the islands and coasts of Georgia and South Carolina centuries ago. They introduced traditional instruments (banjo, fiddle) and novel playing styles. Drums were banned—so they used their hands, feet, stick, and mouths to create drum sounds. This strong influence on the band gives a distinct sound. Dr. David Pleasant plays 8 out of 10 songs on percussion that have Gullah influence. David is an esteemed African-American culture bearer. He uses his body, voice, and a drum set made of tambourines.

"This powerful and strong influence for our band brings spiritual energy to our shows," says Nick Russo. "My musical life has always been surrounded by an eclectic combination of unique musicians and scenes. So naturally, my own band has been a melting pot of many different cultures, genres, instruments, and sounds!”

MUSICIAN BIOS

Nick Russo leads the charge as bandleader and composer. He plays banjo, resonator, and guitar. Russo had the honor to play with Sir Paul McCartney while performing at Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s home. Nick has performed on ABC’s “Good Morning America" and appears in the Sam Mendes film “Away We Go.”

Percussionist and composer, Dr. David Pleasant has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Cecil Taylor, and many others. He has also performed on Nickelodeon, TED talks, ABC with Ted Koppel, Broadway, and around the world.

Betina Hershey (vocals, guitar) has appeared as a principal dancer in Disney’s Enchanted and Mona Lisa Smile with Julia Roberts. Hershey performed on international and national tours of Broadway shows including “West Side Story” and “Phantom of the Opera.”

Rounding out the band is Miles Griffith. His non-traditional use of the voice as a percussive instrument, combined with an uncanny harmonic sense makes a singular force in the ensemble. He has performed with Max Roach, Reggie Workman, Paul Simon, and others. He played the lead role in Wynton Marsalis' jazz oratorio ''Blood On The Fields,'' which premiered at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.

SONGS AND STORIES

"My mom used to sing ‘You Are My Sunshine’ and I loved singing harmony with her. She passed away three weeks after Nick and I got married and she’s had a huge influence on my musicality since she loved country, bluegrass, and so many genres of music," says Betina.

"‘I Don’t Believe in Love’ is a saucy flirtation of a song. I do believe in love, but it creates all kinds of pressure. By the way, we didn't get married in Spain, but we did have a musical honeymoon there."

"Elizabeth Cotten's ‘Freight Train’ had to be our first track,” says Nick. “The vibe Betina creates with this tune with my added slide fills, and David's harmonica playing creates a beautiful texture. The way Elizabeth Cotten sings and plays guitar is a masterful part of our country’s African-American heritage.

"We started playing ‘Jock-A-Mo’ (Iko Iko) as a band because of a New Orleans gig we played in Manhattan a few years ago,” says Russo. "We added Miles Griffith and he improvised a vocal line and Betina harmonized during the interlude section and an arrangement was born! On a second studio recording date, we improvised yet another version with Mamadou Ba on bass and I'm playing resonator with a brass slide. We used a short version for Very Next Thing."

http://banjonickaru.com

Very Next Thing

(4:54) - Folk - FCC Friendly - Lift You Up is all about how good it feels to give. When we give our gifts to others, we lift them up, and this lifts ourselves up, too. Science supports the fact that when you give to others, you feel better for longer, so let’s lift each other up! 

Harvey and Nick started recording by laying down the groove together. Kingston, Jamaica born, Russell Hall tracked electric bass producing a deep reggae feel complimented by Nick’s overdubbed reggae organ bubble and Harvey’s layered percussion. Miles’ island roots shines through and supports Betina uplifting original. 

CHORDS & LYRICS: Lift You Up

D A Cadd9 Bm
Every day when I - wake up I look for the sound of the - hope for the future
Reach so deep, I’m ready to make my way- falling forward - I can’t help looking for

CHORUS: G D A Bm  (2x)    F#m	G	Bb 	(ending C D)
Something to gift
Something to lift
Something to give you, I lift you up
I lift you up		F#m
I lift you u-u-up	G	Bb 	(ending C D)

D A C Bm
Every day when I - notice the - feelings inside me that hurt me and guide me I
Take one moment more - to explore what’s too real, no big deal - you and me always see there’s

CHORUS: G D A Bm  (2x)    	F#m	G	Bb 	(ending C D)
Something to gift
Something to lift
Something to give you, I lift you up
I lift you up		F#m
I lift you u-u-up	G	Bb 	(ending C D)

D / C / Bm / G/A A
It’s a song, it’s a mem’ry, it’s a way forward, it’s rain in the sky
It’s a string, it’s a pedal, it’s a vibration, the glint in your eye
It’s laughter	G  D/F#
It’s allowing myself to cry	Bm E9

CHORUS: G D A Bm  (2x)   	F#m	G	Bb 	(ending C D)
Something to gift
Something to lift
Something to give you, I lift you up
I lift you up		F#m
I lift you u-u-up	G	Bb 	(ending C D)

(solos on a vamp)

D A C Bm
Every day I strum my guitar how I feel something real always shaking - it’s coming
Sweet and clear, I hear what I long for - this song shaking free. Yeah, the music’s in me as...

CHORUS: G D A Bm  (2x)   	F#m	G	Bb 	(ending C D)
Something to gift
Something to lift
Something to give you, I lift you up
I lift you up		F#m
I lift you u-u-up	G	Bb 	(ending C D)

Track 1 on the album Lift You Up.
QZXRQ2300001
Format: Global Folk, Reggae
Length: 4:54

Which Scooches are on the recording:
Betina Hershey, voice, guitar, lyrics/composition
Miles Griffith, voice
Russell Hall, electric bass
Harvey Wirht, drums, percussion
Nick Russo (Banjo Nickaru), guitar, organ, composition, music director, producer

Authors: 
Betina Hershey (music/lyrics)
Nick Russo (music/arrangement)
recorded and shot at Soundtronics in NYC
sound engineer & co-producer, Len Monachello

Lift You Up

We (Nick Russo & Betina Hershey Russo) wrote I'm Gettin' Married for each other for our own wedding.

We released this original on September 30, 2016 on our album, "Very Next Thing" by Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches.

http://www.BanjoNickaru.com

I'm Gettin' Married

Betina (Hershey) wrote I Don't Believe In Love for me (Nick Russo)before we were married and are now including it on our debut album, 'Very Next Thing' by Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches.

Release date: September 30, 2016

http://banjonickaru.com

I Don't Believe In Love

Opening track of our new album 'Very Next Thing' by Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches.

Release date: September 30, 2016

Betina Hershey, vocals/guitar
Nick Russo, resonator/slide
Dr. David Pleasant, harmonica/percussion
Mamadou Ba, electric bass

http://www.banjonickaru.com

Freight Train

From our new album 'Very Next Thing' by Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches.

Release date: September 30, 2016

http://banjonickaru.com

You Are My Sunshine

From our debut album 'Very Next Thing' by Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches.

Release date: September 30, 2016

Betina Hershey, voice
Miles Griffith, voice
Nick Russo, slide guitar
Dr. David Pleasant, percussion
Mamadou Ba, electric bass

http://banjonickaru.com

Jock-A-Mo

Sweet Georgia Brown composed in 1925 by Ben Bernie & Maceo Pinkard (Kenneth Casey, lyrics).

From our new album 'Very Next Thing' by Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches.

Release date: September 30, 2016

Features:
Betina Hershey, voice/guitar
Nick Russo, banjo
David Pleasant, percussion

http://www.banjonickaru.com

Sweet Georgia Brown

Anywhere They Go (written by Betina Hershey and Nick Russo)exemplifies Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches' connection to world music. With "Anywhere They Go" Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches is fusing Indian Raga influence. This is a brand new song and will be released on our next album in 2017, entitled "Which Country?" Betina wrote this beautiful melody & lyrics. Nick Russo wrote the chords, the arrangement and acted as producer. 
     Here, Banjo Nickaru (Nick Russo) is channeling sitar & raga on 5 string banjo also with help from our guest sitar player, Neel Murgai.  Harvey Wirht is our guest drummer on this recording. Len Monacello, recording engineer; Sara Pettinella, videographer and photographer. Keep an eye open for our soon to come 2017 video premiere for Anywhere They Go!

Anywhere They Go Mix

Betina on Nick

NYC-based The Scooches fuses global music with Americana sounds, including folk, roots, New Orleans styles, music of the 1920s, and originals.

"...it's unlike anything most listeners will find elsewhere."
San Diego Troubadour

"Americana music at its purest and most impressive" No Depression 
 
“Unfailingly high-spirited." LONDON TIMES

"It underscores, too, how sounds from another time can be renewed and re-imagined, by creative minds and right hands, in the present moment. (Banjo Nickaru & Western) Scooches are ridiculously fun." Rambles. 

LIFT YOU UP #1 Album - FAI Folk Chart July 2023
GET US OUT OF FEARLAND  #2 Album - FAI Folk Chart April 2018 
THE VERY NEXT THING  #6  Album - FAI Folk Chart September 2016

“Remarkable musical dexterity, with songs that bask in a genuine roots regimen and a sense of timeless tradition.” Elmore Magazine

Led by Betina Hershey and multi-instrumentalist Nick Russo, the Scooches feature standout musicians from New York, Suriname, Mexico, and Sapelo Island, who have performed at Kansas City Folk Festival, Club Passim, Isis Music Hall, Blue Plate Special, WFUV, John Platt's “On Your Radar” and all around the world. Band members have performed with artists such as Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, Jerry Garcia, Julia Roberts, and Wynton Marsalis. Plus they have made appearances in movies such as Disney's "Enchanted,” “Mona Lisa Smile,” “Away We Go” and PBS Masterpiece, “The Chaperone.” 


"Fresh and vital" Classical Arts 

“Nick Russo has worked with artists all over the jazz spectrum. His latest release brings a decidedly unorthodox approach.”DOWNBEAT  ⋆⋆⋆⋆

I Don't Believe In Love

The Scooches

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