Mandolinist/vocalist Steve Smith and Nashville guitarist/vocalist Tim May bring their acoustic brand of fire for an evening of original, traditional and swing music to Black Rose. The two musicians have collaborated in studio and on stages nationwide. Smith and May originally met while on staff at Camp Bluegrass in Levelland, Texas, and quickly discovered many common musical threads for exploration honoring tradition and improvisation. Their July 2016 CD “Murder of Crows” reflects upon this acoustic music force the duo has become and includes seven originals. Their shows include tight vocal harmonies, dazzling guitar, mandolin, octave mandolin and twin mandolin works throughout a broad range of styles.

Steve Smith is not only known as one of this country’s top mandolin players but also as an outstanding educator. Along with his work with the roots/bluegrass group The Hard Road Trio and the Alan Munde Gazette, Smith has appeared at festivals and venues internationally.

With the Las Cruces Symphony he has performed works of William Grant Still, Gershwin and George Crumb and the musical “Chicago.”  Along with 30 years of coast-to-coast touring, Smith has performed in Ireland, Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Cuba and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He has also performed in musical theater in Cotton Patch Gospel (multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and actor) and the Robber Bride Groom; he composed and performed the score for a production of the Sam Sheppard play “Curse of the Starving Class.” Steve has appeared on over 30 albums as performer and producer including guitar legends Jim Hurst, Mitch Perry, and Tim May; banjoist Bill Evans, Alan Munde and Tim O’Brien.  His music has been heard on countless radio stations across the U.S. and on the Discovery Channel, The History Channel and even the Weather Channel. More on Steve: www.desertnight.com

Flatpicker Tim May has been working in the Nashville area for over 20 years as a sideman, session player, band member and performer. Higher profile projects have included touring with Patty Loveless and John Cowan, and working as a regular on the Grand Ole Opry with Mike Snider. Tim was the solo guitarist on Charlie Daniels’ recording of “I’ll Fly Away,” which was nominated for the Best Country Instrumental Performance Grammy in 2005. That same year he was session leader on the critically acclaimed Moody Bluegrass album (he later played on Moody Bluegrass II as well). The Nashville Scene selected Tim in the Best Instrumentalist category in their 2012 Reader’s Choice Poll.  More on Tim: http://www.timmaymusic.net