B.G. McPike and Solly Burton
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B.G. McPike and Solly Burton

Terre Haute, Indiana, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2009 | SELF

Terre Haute, Indiana, United States | SELF
Established on Jan, 2009
Duo Americana Jazz

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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Press


"McPike and Haute Club make 'Bluephoria' a Memorable Feeling"

Mark Bennett The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — Mixing teenage mandolin phenom Solly Burton with a band of jazz, folk and blues virtuosos was simply a stroke of genius.

The result of that fascinating pairing is “Bluephoria,” the second album by B.G. McPike and the Haute Club.

Burton’s staccato fretwork adds a buoyant brightness to the bluesy flair of McPike’s acoustic guitar and the folksy improvisation by violinist Carolyn Dutton, backed by bassist Eric Schatz and drummer John DiCenso.

The 10-track CD solidly follows the Haute Club’s tasty 2007 debut “Smooth Landing,” also produced by Don Arney’s Quantum Music.

The fun begins immediately with the opening tune, “Back to Indiana.” The genres blend completely, with McPike’s blues riffs anchoring the tune while Dutton — who’s impressive recording resume on fiddle includes sessions with John Sebastian and Dan Hicks, and appearances on Broadway — trades solos with Burton.

A few tunes — all written by McPike, a doctor of guitar at Indiana State University — are playful instrumentals. “Treetops” tastefully stages a musical conversation between Dutton and Burton, while “Don’t Miss Your Turn” ambles comfortably, like a sunny drive down Indiana 63 toward Burton’s hometown of Graysville. The group, featuring electric guitarist Dan Sumner, shows off its chops in the disc’s 9-minute finale, “Bluephoria.”

McPike harnesses the album’s personality with a voice that, in its upper register, occasionally hints at Gordon Lightfoot, especially on “Back to Indiana” and “Back to Today,” as well as “Dark Side of Blue” with its Hendrix-style cadence.

Tempo and rhythm helps the danceable “Pardon Me” shine, followed by “Workhorse,” a deliciously gritty, 5-minute duel between Sumner and Dutton.

Thanks to McPike and his well-selected Haute Club, “Bluephoria” is a memorable feeling.



A bit of ‘Bluephoria’

What: CD release party for “Bluephoria,” the new album by B.G. McPike and the Haute Club.

When: 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 5.

Where: Coffee Grounds, 423 Wabash Ave., Terre Haute.

Who: The group consists of Brent McPike (vocal, guitar), Carolyn Dutton (violin), Solly Burton (mandolin), Eric Schatz (bass) and John DiCenso (drums).

Cover charge: $6 per person.

Finding the CD: “Bluephoria” is available online at cdbaby.com ($12.97), and also at BookNation ($12). Two dollars from every sale will go to the United Way of the Wabash Valley.
- Terre Haute Tribune Star


"McPike and Haute Club make 'Bluephoria' a Memorable Feeling"

Mark Bennett The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — Mixing teenage mandolin phenom Solly Burton with a band of jazz, folk and blues virtuosos was simply a stroke of genius.

The result of that fascinating pairing is “Bluephoria,” the second album by B.G. McPike and the Haute Club.

Burton’s staccato fretwork adds a buoyant brightness to the bluesy flair of McPike’s acoustic guitar and the folksy improvisation by violinist Carolyn Dutton, backed by bassist Eric Schatz and drummer John DiCenso.

The 10-track CD solidly follows the Haute Club’s tasty 2007 debut “Smooth Landing,” also produced by Don Arney’s Quantum Music.

The fun begins immediately with the opening tune, “Back to Indiana.” The genres blend completely, with McPike’s blues riffs anchoring the tune while Dutton — who’s impressive recording resume on fiddle includes sessions with John Sebastian and Dan Hicks, and appearances on Broadway — trades solos with Burton.

A few tunes — all written by McPike, a doctor of guitar at Indiana State University — are playful instrumentals. “Treetops” tastefully stages a musical conversation between Dutton and Burton, while “Don’t Miss Your Turn” ambles comfortably, like a sunny drive down Indiana 63 toward Burton’s hometown of Graysville. The group, featuring electric guitarist Dan Sumner, shows off its chops in the disc’s 9-minute finale, “Bluephoria.”

McPike harnesses the album’s personality with a voice that, in its upper register, occasionally hints at Gordon Lightfoot, especially on “Back to Indiana” and “Back to Today,” as well as “Dark Side of Blue” with its Hendrix-style cadence.

Tempo and rhythm helps the danceable “Pardon Me” shine, followed by “Workhorse,” a deliciously gritty, 5-minute duel between Sumner and Dutton.

Thanks to McPike and his well-selected Haute Club, “Bluephoria” is a memorable feeling.



A bit of ‘Bluephoria’

What: CD release party for “Bluephoria,” the new album by B.G. McPike and the Haute Club.

When: 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 5.

Where: Coffee Grounds, 423 Wabash Ave., Terre Haute.

Who: The group consists of Brent McPike (vocal, guitar), Carolyn Dutton (violin), Solly Burton (mandolin), Eric Schatz (bass) and John DiCenso (drums).

Cover charge: $6 per person.

Finding the CD: “Bluephoria” is available online at cdbaby.com ($12.97), and also at BookNation ($12). Two dollars from every sale will go to the United Way of the Wabash Valley.
- Terre Haute Tribune Star


Discography

McPike:

CD companion to 'First Lessons for Guitar by Julio S. Sagreras' (2005)

B.G. McPike and The Haute Club: "Smooth Landing" (2007)

B.G. McPike and The Haute Club: "Bluephoria" (2010)

McPike's work recorded by the Coda Duo:

"Into Your Company" and "The Blue Hole" on album, 'Sonata Andaluz' (2010)

Burton:

'Solly Burton: "Back Home Again"'

Also featured on B.G. McPike and the Haute Club's 'Bluephoria'

Burton and McPike: "From Far Beyond the Pond: Favorite tunes from Great Britain, Ireland, and Shetland" featuring Nan McEntire (2012)

'She Was Born in Indiana Where the Wabash River Flows' on "The Wabash" (Art Spaces Indiana's fundraiser album collection of Wabash Valley Artists.)

Photos

Bio

CHOPS, GROOVE, & FUN with HISTORY:
This dynamic acoustic duo blends and bridges multiple styles of music that span generations of song. Performing with Two-time Winfield National Mandolin Champion, Solly Burton, brings McPike full circle with the music he played as a teen with his grandfather: the popular music of 'The American Songbook' - and beyond.

B.G. MCPIKE is one of those extremely rare guitarists who has taken the time and pains to cultivate and maintain a professional caliber classical guitar technique without abandoning the popular, jazz, and folk styles in which he grew as a youngster, and in which he continues to grow today. He holds degrees in music from both Butler University and Indiana University, including a Doctor of Music in Guitar Performance and Literature with a minor in Jazz Studies.

At age 20, he was selected as one of six guitarists from a nation-wide audition tour to perform at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia. Since 2001 he has resided in Terre Haute, Indiana, where he has taught guitar at the Indiana State University School of Music. In 2008 he was awarded a regional prize, Arts Illiana's 'Bravo! The Arts' award as the Wabash Valley's Professional Artist of the Year. In the summer of 2008 he toured Thailand with The Ambassador Brass quintet. In March, 2009 he and guitar duo partner Dan Sumner took First Prize in the Professional Division of the Brownsville Guitar Ensemble Festival and Competition, playing mostly McPike's original works. Later in 2009 he performed 'Electric Counterpoint' by Pulitzer Prize winning composer Steve Reich at Indiana State University's Contemporary Music Festival - after which Reich, who attended the concert, called it a 'fabulous performance.' And in 2011, McPike also won the Indiana State Thumbpicking championship at Princeton, IN.

McPike's songwriting got him recognized by the 'Song of the Year' contest as one of the 'suggested artists' for September, 2009. A baritone/bass vocalist, he sang and accompanied the Grammy winning Indiana University Singing Hoosiers in the 90's.

SOLLY BURTON:
Winner and current Champion of both the 2013 Tennessee State mandolin and flatpick guitar championships, Solly has become one of the all-time great mandolin players by age 21 with two Winfield Championships under his belt to go along with a long list of other top prizes at Bluegrass festivals. By age 12, he had performed on stage with Ricky Skaggs. While his roots are in bluegrass and folk, Burton is an avid fan of the great Jethro Burns, whose work has inspired him to explore the music of 'The American Songbook'.

In 2009, Solly was featured on NPR's 'From The Top', and he received 'honorable mention' recognition from cellist Yo-Yo Ma on NPR radio's broadcast of the winners of the renowned cellist's Indaba music competition. Also in 2009, Burton was honored with a "Bravo! The Arts!" award as the Wabash Valley's Outstanding Teen Artist. In addition to his accolades for his mandolin playing, he has also won the Indiana State Fiddling and Picking Championships' award for First Prize in Flat Picking Guitar Burton has appeared on NPR at other times: in Boston for an NPR fundraiser, and in Rochester, NY where he performed Vivaldi's 'Mandolin Concerto in C' with faculty members from Eastman School of Music.

Quotable:
"That was a really fabulous performance!" - Steve Reich (Pulitzer Prize-winning Composer) upon hearing McPike's performance of Reich's own work, 'Electric Counterpoint'

"That was the best Rotary Club meeting I've been to in 30 years" - Judge, Michael Eldred - after McPike & Burton's performance for the Rotary Club of Terre Haute on 1/3/12.

Band Members