Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches debut album: Very Next Thing

Going for radio adds on September 1, 2016

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

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

1929 Fats Waller (Harry Brooks) masterpiece Ain't Misbehavin' with (lyrics by Andy Razaf.

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

Features:
Betina Hershey, voice/guitar
Nick Russo, banjo
Dr. David Pleasant, drums

Release date: September 30, 2016

http://banjonickaru.com

Ain't Misbehavin'

1924 Spencer Williams's piece (lyrics by Jack Palmer).

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

Features:
Betina Hershey, voice/guitar
Nick Russo, banjo
Dr. David Pleasant, percussion
Josh Holcomb on trombone (from MTV's Lucky Chops)

Release date: September 30, 2016

http://banjonickaru.com

Nobody But My Baby Is Getting My Love

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

1926 Harry Woods tune.

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

Release date: September 30, 2016

Features:
Betina Hershey, voice
Gordon Au, trumpet
Dennis Lichtman, clarinet
Nick Russo, banjo
Essiet Essiet, bass
Dr. David Pleasant, drums

http://banjonickaru.com

When The Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob Bobbin Along)

Harry Dixon Loes (1895-1965) wrote this spiritual in the 1920s and was first collected by John Lomax in 1939.

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

Release date: September 30, 2016

Features:
Miles Griffith, voice
Betina Hershey, voice
Nick Russo, guitar
Mamadou Ba, bass
Dr. David Pleasant, drum

http://banjonickaru.com

This Little Light Of Mine

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  ⋆⋆⋆⋆