Jack Dunlap & Robert Mabe have been touring the country together since 2019; though collectively have performed and recorded with the likes of Larry Keel, Gina Furtado, Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, Scythian, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Bud’s Collective, The Fly Birds, Dry Mill Road, Old Town Flood, Shannon Bielski & Moonlight Drive, Tim and Savannah Finch and The Eastman Stringband, Lonesome Highway, Circa Blue and Jakobs Ferry Stragglers, to name a few. They have also graced prestigious stages such as The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Carnegie Hall in New York City, Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln, Nebraska, The Hamilton in Washington, DC and Forbes Center for the Performing Arts in Harrisonburg, VA. Both masters of their instruments, they play a mix of original tunes, classic bluegrass numbers, jazz favorites and covers anyone would recognize. With roots planted firmly in bluegrass, they stretch their sound in ways that all audiences will enjoy and leave the performance wanting more.
Jack Dunlap - Guitar
Jack Dunlap has made a name for himself playing mandolin in the D.C. area. Formerly of the trio Bud's Collective, Jack has worked alongside past and present members of Mountain Heart, Audie Blaylock and Redline, Dailey and Vincent, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen, Blue Highway, Chris Jones, and the Night Drivers and Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, to name a few. Though growing up playing bluegrass music, Jack stretches his instrument into other genres such as jazz, swing, blues, rock, classical, country, Eastern Indian folk music, Celtic, polka, and many others. He worked as the apprentice to VA-based mandolin legend Danny Knicely through the VA Folklife Program. Knicely and Dunlap recorded the album "Chop, Shred & Split - A Mandolin Player's Apprenticeship" together in 2015. The album went on to win Best Bluegrass Album of the Year at the Washington Area Music Awards (WAMMIES).
In January of 2018, he started the Jack Dunlap Band and his longtime musical partner Jacob Bly and drummer extraordinaire Randall Witherspoon. In September 2018, the band performed at Watermelon Park Fest in Berryville, VA, with saxophonist Justin Eller. After that performance, Justin joined the band full-time.
The Jack Dunlap Band released their debut album, The Adventures of Captain J-LAP & Major Jammage, in February of 2019. The record features 9 original tunes and one blues cover. Guesting is Wendy Dunlap on flute and Mason Wright on fiddle with Jack also playing the electric guitar.
In 2020, when the shutdowns due to COVID began, Jack seized the opportunity to write and record a solo album featuring only mandolin, bass, and vocals. "The Isolation Sessions" features 5 original tunes, 3 revived Bud's Collective songs, and 2 traditional/folk songs. The album went to number 1 on the Airplay Direct Charts in May of 2020.
Constantly forging ahead, Jack blazes his trail with the aid of Sam Bush, John Coltrane, Trey Hensley, Miles Davis, Eric Clapton, Chris Thile, Joe Walsh, and other musical greats.
Robert Mabe - Banjo
As a kid growing up in North Carolina, Robert was surrounded by many great bluegrass musicians. In fact, his grandfather was a guitar/bass player who also performed at The Grand Ole Opry.
When his parents gave him a banjo at age 12, he began taking lessons and attending local bluegrass jams, and he was soon hooked.
Listening to Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, and all things bluegrass, he also became interested in other styles of music, including Jazz, Irish, and Blues.
While taking banjo lessons, he would also seek out piano, guitar, and sax teachers to translate their styles to the banjo.
This was not just for the love of the banjo but also for the love of live performance.
Over the years, Robert has performed thousands of live shows across the USA and abroad. In 2013 Robert performed at Carnegie Hall.
He has recorded with many great musicians, including Larry Keel, Clay Jones, and Patrick McAvinue. Roberts latest studio release, "Somewhere in the Middle," was written and produced by Robert, showcasing his versatile songwriting skills and includes an all-star cast of musicians.
Alex Kimble - Bass
Alex Kimble is a musician who picked up the bass at the age of 18. Alex has been influenced by a wide variety of artists ranging from Gentle Giant and Sun Kil Moon, to The High Kings and Charles Mingus. He plays many different styles of music, including jazz, rock, metal, bluegrass, funk, Irish, classical, folk, prog, and Indian. He attended Shenandoah University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Jazz Studies degree.
Mason Wright - Fiddle
Originally from Rocky Mount, Virginia, Mason grew up in an area saturated with Bluegrass music. His grandfather was an accomplished guitar and banjo player, all four of his siblings were musicians, and there were jam sessions in town every week.
Mason has 27 years of experience playing fiddle with an extensive classical background. He has studied with members of the Kandinski Trio, Audubon Quartet, and attended Shenandoah Conservatory majoring in Violin Performance. Over the years Mason also gained experience playing in various youth and college orchestras as well as chamber ensembles.
However, Bluegrass is Mason’s area of expertise. As a student, he gained experience and success in the arena of fiddle and band competitions. Playing in bands is something that Mason has done since he was 11 years old starting with his family band, The Wright Kids. After leaving for college, Mason became the fiddle player for regional bluegrass band Lonesome Highway where he honed his skills for 8 years. In 2016 Lonesome Highway stopped touring and the following year Mason became the fiddle player for internationally acclaimed bluegrass band Audie Blaylock and Redline. In addition to playing fiddle for Audie, Mason is also part of the Virginia-based bluegrass band Dunlap and Mabe.
When he isn't on the road with one of his bands, Mason operates a private music studio in Winchester, VA. As a teacher, Mason has taught in various capacities over the past 15 years and has had his own private studio since 2016. Mason is passionate about teaching music and has had the pleasure of helping players of all levels. From beginners who want to learn the fundamentals to experienced players that want to take their playing to the next level.
Danny Knicely - Mandolin
Danny Knicely comes from a musical family steeped in a mountain music tradition for generations. He first learned music from his grandfather, A.O. Knicely, who played dances and social events in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia beginning in the 1930's. Danny has used his roots in old-time and bluegrass to explore various types of music from around the world. He has shared his music and collaborated with musicians in over a dozen countries spanning four continents, including U.S. State Department tours in Tunisia, Morocco, Russia and Cabo Verde.
Danny has won many awards for his mandolin, guitar, fiddle and flat-foot dance expertise, including first place in the mandolin contest at the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival. His masterful mandolinistry and original compositions can be heard on his debut recording “Roots and Branches” and his colorful, versatile, acoustic guitar picking can be heard on his "Waltz for Aimee” album.
Danny is an avid music educator whose students have gone on to attain degrees at institutions such as Berklee College of Music and Oberlin Conservatory. He has also taught at some of the leading music camps in the U.S. including Augusta Heritage Center, Common Ground on the Hill, Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, and Millwood Blues Week.
As a very sought after session musician, producer, and arranger, Danny appears on countless recordings and has recorded with: {see list here}
Danny has the chameleon-like ability to blend into almost any musical situation and has appeared with many top Bluegrass, Old-time, Swing, Jazz, Blues, Rock, Folk, Latin, Country, Irish, Americana, and World Music artists
