Casey Driessen

With a Grammy nomination and two years of solo touring for his debut 3D under his belt, inventive genre-warping fiddler Casey Driessen has gone back in the studio to craft his spring '09 release. 

On his sophomore offering, Oog (title inspired by MC Escher), Driessen goes beyond the common "look-at-me" attitude of predominantly instrumental albums and focuses energy towards his talents as composer and producer. Aggressive to beautiful, dense and spacious, intense yet relaxed, Oog ebbs and flows through dynamic sonic landscapes and extremes of color and texture. Fans of Driessen's signature chop style of funky fiddle percussion and fiercely powerful solos need not fear -- they will find what they seek. His trusty five-string fiddle speaks with a soulful and passionate maturity that respects the diverse moods of the melodies. And although you can't hear them (or can you?), you know he's wearing red shoes. 

Oog reflects Driessen's time as a live performing artist -- pulling largely from world travels as a collaborator, solo artist, and in-demand side man. Developing his own show, both solo and as a drums/bass/fiddle power trio he calls the Colorfools, Driessen has explored some of the finest stages in the US including Merlefest, Festival Miami, and Millennium Park. As side artist and collaborator he has traveled from his home in Tennessee as far as Lhasa, Tibet, gracing venues like Bonnaroo, Telluride Bluegrass, Tønder, and more with diverse artists Bela Fleck, Tim O'Brien, Steve Earle, and Leftover Salmon. The past year has been spent in relentless touring, including a stop at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, with the critically acclaimed Sparrow Quartet, in support of their full length debut. 

Driessen experiments, and explores the notions of fiddle music, stemming from his deep passion for tradition and improvisation but embodied by rock infused groove based interpretations of genre questioning original compositions and a few (de)'rrangements of others. Take a voyage through the mind and existence of an individual who finds inspiration in all that life offers. Casey invites you to forget your cellphone somewhere, shut down your computer, get comfortable, and experience music.