Bent String makes their BOP STOP debut performing a mix of American roots music, including early jazz, acoustic blues, gospel, country and originals. The quartet centers on the vocals of Kari Ann Rutushin and underpinned with the feel of jazz age swing. With Reed Simon’s hot violin, Kevin T. Richards on the archtop guitars and Cleveland Blues Hall of Fame inductee, upright bassist, Raymond DeForest.

Tickets to attend this performance are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. This event will also be livestreamed on BOP STOP's Facebook page at showtime. Accessing the stream is free but donations are encouraged and directly support the band. To donate, select "Donation: Livestream Attendee" (which is a $10 blanket ticket price) as your Ticket Option above.

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www.bentstringmusic.com

Ray DeForest is a master bassist. He is a founding member of the country blues quartet, SpYder Stompers and Sugar Pie and performs with Ohio-based bands in all manner of styles, from country blues to jazz, on the electric and acoustic bass. He was inducted into the Cleveland Blues Hall of Fame in October 2022. Ray studied upright bass with Harry Barnoff, principal Bassist, Cleveland Orchestra. He has backed many national acts including Clark Terry (trumpet), Odean Pope (Sax Choir), and Johnny Johnson (pianist with Chuck Berry). He has been a band member with the jump swing band Blue Lunch for two decades. He teaches private bass lessons part time at Musicologie, Cleveland Heights.

Kevin T. Richards plays many different American roots guitar styles, including blues, jazz and early country. In Bent String, Kevin focuses on the guitar sounds and styles of Freddie Greene and Charlie Christian. He is recognized by the Ohio Arts Council as a master musician in the Country blues guitar style. He also plays mandolin, fiddle and banjo. Kevin was the founder of the non-profit organization Roots of American Music in 1999, and served for over two decades in various roles. He has performed at major festivals including Merlefest, the Brooklyn Folk Festival and the National Folk Festival. He has been on staff multiple times teaching blues & swing guitar at Augusta Heritage Center. He is an owner of the music school Musicologie, Cleveland Heights. https://kevintrichards.com

Kari Ann Rutushin Growing up in North East Ohio, Kari Ann started her musical journey like many musicians before her, in a church pew. She is the vocalist front and center with Bent String. She has a passion for early jazz, gospel, blues and roots country music. Kari Ann is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Champion, OH. and is a professional vocalist with over a decade of sharing stages across Northeast Ohio. She entertains with her uke, washboard, flute and piano. She has worked with the bands Swap Meet and the Larry Elefante band. She is a teaching artist with Roots of American Music. https://kariannrutushin.com/home

William Reed Simon is North East Ohio’s premier Jazz/Swing violinist. His music influences are many including Stephane Grappelli, Joe Venuti, Duke Ellington, and Stuff Smith, all giants of the earlier jazz swing age. Reed is the main soloist in Bent String. He also works with the music group the Hot Club of Cleveland, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, and Hot D’Jang, performing swing, bebop and beyond.

He has been known to share the stage with Lost Bob and the Ozone Ramblers performing bluegrass classics. William Reed Simon is an Associate Professor and head of the Fine Arts Department at Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio. There he teaches both studio Art and Design as well as Graphic Design. In 2001, Reed earned an MFA from Pratt Institute of Art in Painting with a minor in Art History.