Tall Tall Trees is the musical id of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mike Savino, a pioneer in the realm of experimental, DIY banjo music. Accompanied by his trusty Banjotron 6500, a highly customized, electrified banjo and effects pedal setup, Savino has wowed audiences since the 2009 debut of his self-titled album with his eclectic and innovative blend of psychedelic folk, rock and world music. His work seems to actively evade comfortable definition, upon first listen one will recognize the tenderness of Cat Stevens, the melancholy introspection of Elliott Smith, the anthemic psychedelia of Pink Floyd, and a deep abiding respect for Earl Scruggs. Savino often performs solo, showcasing his fleet-footed loop pedal mastery, as well as alongside long-time collaborator and fellow innovator, Kishi Bashi. He has recently collaborated with fellow psych-banjo maestro JD Pinkus of the Butthole Surfers, releasing Ponder Machine, a psychedelic banjo opus on the Shimmy Disc label. Tall Tall Trees latest release and 5th LP, Stick to the Mystical I, featuring a collaboration with Josiah Wolf of the band Why? is out September 8th, 2023 on Joyful Noise Recordings.
Artist Category: Banjo
Clover-Lynn
Clover-Lynn, also known as hillbillygothic, is an American bluegrass and gothic country musician and TikToker. She is the banjoist of the band Clover-Lynn and The Hellfires.
Clover-Lynn grew up in rural Franklin County, Virginia. Her family has lived in the Appalachia region of the Virginian Blue Ridge Mountains for over two-hundred years. She was raised in the Baptist tradition.
Clover-Lynn grew up listening to country and bluegrass music, citing The Stanley Brothers, Flatt and Scruggs, and Rhiannon Giddens as early influences. She worked in the tech industry on the west coast before moving back to Virginia to pursue a career in music.[1] She is the lead of the band Clover-Lynn and the Hellfires, formerly called the Laurel Hells Ramblers. In 2024, she performed at the Floyd Country Store music venue in Floyd County, Virginia.
Clover-Lynn amassed a large following on the social media platforms TikTok and Instagram, under the username hillbillygothic, where she posts videos of herself playing the banjo and combatting misognyist and anti-LGBTQ content.
Jimmy Mazzy
Jimmy Mazzy enjoys iconic status as both a banjoist and vocalist on the American jazz scene. For more than forty years, this consummate musician has delighted followers of traditional jazz with his uniquely lyrical banjo style and his wonderfully haunting vocals. He is featured on more than 30 albums, many of them on the famous Stomp Off label including the Paramount Jazz Band and his own Jimmy Mazzy & Friends. In a New York Times review of Jimmy and Eli’s Stomp Off recording, Shake It Down, critic John S. Wilson wrote: “Mr. Mazzy sings with husky-voiced intensity and a sentimental enthusiasm that sometimes suggests a cross between Ted Lewis and Clancy Hayes. His banjo-playing is relaxed and flowing, providing light lines that help the tuba rise up and shuffle around.”
Tray Wellington
Growing up in western North Carolina’s Ashe County, Trajan “Tray” Wellington heard a lot of music — and from the first time he heard the banjo as a young teen, he was, he says, “hooked.” Even before he graduated from East Tennessee State University’s renowned Bluegrass, Old-Time and Country program, Wellington had earned acclaim as the banjo player with Cane Mill Road, performing across the country and winning a 2019 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year award while the group took Momentum Band of the Year honors.
A well-received, independently released 2020 EP under his own name, the creation of his Tray Wellington Band and signing with Mountain Home Music Company that same year marked Wellington’s decision to make his own path going forward. As he began releasing singles in advance of his full-length debut, Black Banjo, Wellington continued to garner attention, leading banjo workshops at the prestigious Merlefest and Gray Fox festivals; performing on the IBMA’s 2020 World of Bluegrass Main Stage and acting as host for the Momentum Awards ceremony; gaining coverage in publications like No Depression, The Bluegrass Situation and Folk Alley; and appearing on David Holt’s PBS NC series, being interviewed by Rhiannon Giddens for a BBC documentary series and by W. Kamau Bell for his CNN series, United Shades of America.
Upon its release in May 2022, Black Banjo earned a glowing review in the Wall Street Journal that concluded: “This is a record that breaks right through subgenre boundaries. If bluegrass is about spotlighting virtuosos, here’s a new one people will be checking in on for some time to come.”
Johanna Wacker
Johanna Wacker is a singer-songwriter and roots musician from Queens, NY, though much of her family comes from the mountains of Virginia. She’s been writing songs and teaching herself to play pretty much anything with strings since she was 11 years old. Banjo and guitar quickly became her preferred instruments. Johanna has been teaching at Jalopy Theatre and School of Music since 2019, and is excited to bring her passion for teaching to Passim.
Ken Perlman
Ken Perlman is a pioneer of the 5-string banjo style known as melodic clawhammer; he is considered one today’s top clawhammer players, known in particular for his skillful adaptations of Celtic, Appalachian, & Canadian fiddle tunes to the style. He has toured throughout most of the English-speaking world and in Western-Europe, both as a soloist and – for over fifteen years – in a duo with renowned Appalachian-style fiddler Alan Jabbour. An acclaimed teacher of folk-music instrumental skills, Ken has written such widely used banjo instruction books as Clawhammer Style Banjo. Melodic Clawhammer Banjo and Everything You Wanted to Know About Clawhammer Banjo; he has been on staff at prestigious festivals around the world, and he is currently director of three music-instructional camps: American Banjo Camp, Midwest Banjo Camp, and Suwannee Banjo Camp. Also an independent folklorist, Ken spent close to two decades collecting tunes and oral histories from traditional fiddle players on Prince Edward Island in Eastern Canada. His most recent solo recordings are Frails & Frolics and Northern Banjo; his recordings with Alan Jabbour are Southern Summits & You Can’t Beat the Classics; his latest book is Appalachian Fiddle Tunes for Clawhammer Banjo.
For more: www.kenperlman.com
Joel Wennerstrom
Joel plays clawhammer banjo and guitar for contra and square dances in the New England area. Before moving to Boston in 2013, Joel lived in NYC, where he taught design and drawing at Pratt Institute. His playing is featured on various recordings, including Hammer & String’s “The Girl Who Broke My Heart” with Rhys Jones and Cleek Shrey, “Wooden Nickels” with Laura Feddersen and Owen Marshall, “The Pleasure of Your Company” with Harry Bolick, and “All in Good Time”, with Alan Kaufman and Don Stratton.
Trevin Nelson
Trevin Nelson is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter whose passion for music brought him deep into the traditions of American folk music and beyond. His music is a tapestry of traditional sounds informed by modernity.
Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Trevin discovered his musical calling early in life. Picking up the banjo in his teens, he quickly became enamored with its rich tones and expressive potential. What began as a hobby soon became a lifelong pursuit, driving him to explore musics never ending depths.
Trevin’s journey led him to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he honed his craft alongside a vibrant community of talented peers. It was during this time that he not only refined his skills but also fostered enduring friendships and collaborations.
As a founding member and banjoist of The Ruta Beggars, Trevin has earned recognition for his dynamic performances and innovative approach to Bluegrass and Americana music. His artistry extends beyond the stage; Trevin is a dedicated educator, sharing his knowledge and love for music through classes at Club Passim, workshops at festivals, private lessons, and as a Wernick Method Teacher. In addition, Trevin is also a certified Yoga Instructor.
Today, Trevin Nelson continues to captivate audiences with his performances and inspires students with his teaching in Boston. Whether performing solo, collaborating with fellow musicians, or mentoring aspiring artists, Trevin’s dedication to his craft shines through.
Dirk Powell
Dirk Powell is a musician with deep roots in several rural American traditions. He learned banjo and fiddle from his Kentucky grandfather, James Clarence Hay, and has been a part of the thriving Cajun/Creole music community in Louisiana since his early 20s. He has toured and recorded with musicians such as Eric Clapton, Joan Baez, Buddy Miller, Jack White, Loretta Lynn, and Levon Helm, while his contribution to film has found him collaborating with directors like Anthony Minghella (“Cold Mountain”), Ang Lee (“Ride with the Devil”), and Spike Lee (“Bamboozled”). His solo records, which often combine a traditional foundation with a wide-ranging commitment to emotion and original expression, have had impact around the globe. He is also in demand as a producer and owns his own studio on the banks of Bayou Teche near Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.
