It's a creative collaboration of seven mandolin players from around North America who have joined forces on a new CD to explore the boundaries of new acoustic music. 

This highly original record takes many twists and turns, ranging from high-energy tunes with traditional roots, to free-wheeling jams, to fresh arrangements of classical works, to spontaneous group improvisations. While the music is mandocentric, you'll also hear lots of dobro, violin, and guitar, as most group members play two or three instruments. Take a listen...

MandoMorphosis' core players are based in Western Washington state (see performance schedule).  

Read Hank Davis' interview of MandoMorphosis in Victory Review Magazine (Feb. 2010 issue).

Hear a podcast of an on-air interview with Matt, Michael and Scott on KBCS-FM (Jan. 15, 2010).

Need more? Click on a name or scroll down...

Matt    Orville    Pete    David    Scott    Michael    Adam

Matt Sircely plays the mandolin.

Home state:
Pennsylvania

Notable band: 
Hot Club Sandwich

Performing and recording credits: 
James Seward, the Klezmer Mountain Boys, Danny Barnes, Buell Neidlinger’s Prairie Ramblers, David Jacobs-Strain, Paul Anastasio

Teaching credit: 
David Grisman's and Mike Marshall's Mandolin Symposium

MandoMorph moments:
He's all over the CD 2010, but highlights include his original compositions "Ed" and "Matt's Idea," and several improv passages.

Home state:
Illinois

Notable band: 
Kings of Mongrel Folk

Performing and recording credits: 
Over 200 CDs, soundtracks and commercials, A Prairie Home Companion, and Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, and the feature film Georgia

Production and Teaching credits: 
Has produced 22 CDs for other artists, and recorded several instructional DVDs

MandoMorph moments:
He plays all three of his instruments interchangeably on 2010; highlights include his original lyrics and vocal on "Nero's Fiddle," and pyrotechnics on his instrumental "Hamhock's Razor."

Michael Connolly plays the mandolin. And the fiddle, not to mention everything else.

Home state:
Tennesee

Music venue: 
Owns and hosts Empty Sea Studios, which is emerging as one of the region's finest acoustic music performance spaces

Performing and recording credits: 
Korby Lenker Band, Coyote Grace, Kate Graves Dysfunction Junction, The Dustmakers, and Captain Gravel

Teaching credits: 
Many, including development of the Learning Musician website to help music students and teachers find each other

MandoMorph moments:
His spirited swing tune, "A Minor Squabble," is among the record's highlights.

David Tiller plays the mandolin. Also 8-string tenor guitar.

Home state:
Virginia

Notable bands: 
ThaMuseMeant, Taarka

Performing and recording credits: 
Has shared stages with Dave Matthews Band, Sheryl Crow, Ricki Lee Jones, String Cheese Incident, and Greg Brown

MandoMorph moments:
Check out frenetic "Out of the Oven and Into the Fire," which he composed minutes before recording it with the group, and his spontaneous duet with Matt, called "Los Somorgujos."

Pete Frostic plays the mandolin, as well as octave-mandolin

Home state:
Illinois

Notable band: 
Old School Freight Train

Performing and recording credits: 
Has performed with David Grisman, Mike Marshall, and Darol Anger, released a duet album with banjoist Ben Krakauer called Wide Open, and scored a documentary film on cougar biology

Teaching credits: 
University of Virginia, College of William and Mary, Virtual Woodshed

MandoMorph moments:
Listen to his original arrangement of Chopin's classic, "Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2," and a searing duet of Jacob do Bandolim's "Santa Morena."

Home state:
Connecticut

Notable band: 
Zoffer/Larrabee Due

Performing and recording credits: 
Bruce Hornsby, Dave Holland, Jimmy Heath, Hilton Ruiz, Evan Marshall, and Béla Fleck

Teaching credits: 
New England Conservatory and University of Virginia

MandoMorph moments: 
Joins Pete in memorable performances of "Santa Morena," and "Nocturne."

Scott Schaffer plays the mandolin, mandola and guitar.

Home state:
Pennsylvania

Notable bands: 
Edge City Collective

Production and recording credits: 
Produced a dozen records, including MandoMorphosis' 2010, in genres ranging from new acoustic to free improvisation, and several B-movie soundtracks

Teaching credit: 
Creative Music Workshop

MandoMorph moments: 
Tunes of his origin include hard-driving "CrimeDog," and meditative "Cascadia Raga."

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