The Grateful Strings

THE GRATEFUL STRINGS

A Grateful Strings Show is intended to provide the audience with a taste of the joy, the contemplation, the wonder and the journey that was experienced by fans of the Grateful Dead at one of their legendary live shows. The band consists of Craig Graham on lead guitar, Robert Politzer on rhythm guitar, Von Cello on the acoustic cello, Joe Deninson on violin, Kyle Esposito on bass guitar, and Chris Lyons on drums. 

Lead guitarist Craig Graham grew up on his mother's jazz, R&B and soul records and his older brother's rock and roll. A graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, he has studied with such great artists as Pat Metheny, Michael Brecker and Dave Creamer.

Joe Deninzon has established himself as a versatile, on-demand electric and acoustic violinist, mandolinist, guitarist, singer and composer. A musician who transcends many genres, he has recorded and performed with a variety of artists including Sheryl Crow, Everclear, Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple, Smokey Robinson, Johnny Matthis, Les Paul, Phoebe Snow, Jane Monheit, and Robert Bonfiglio. He has appeared in Lincoln Center’s Meet the Artist program, as a soloist with the New York Chamber Ensembles, has performed on MTV and at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, and has played for former President Clinton.

Aaron Minksy (aka Von Cello) is a noted rock cellist. He began his career as a guitarist, influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa and Jerry Garcia, before transfering his knowledge of rock guitar to the cello. Minsky has performed with the Caracas Philharmonic of Venezuela and the Virginia Opera, and in venues as diverse as CBGBs and Carnegie Hall.

A Berklee College of Music grad, Kyle Esposito has studied and performed music for over 25 years, working steadily as a bandleader on both bass and guitar. Performing and recording with George Baker (former guitarist and music director for Marvin Gaye) solidified his approach to the blues and R&B, while his own band, Fourth House blended rock with jazz-influenced harmony. He is currently guitarist fo the Meg Johnson Band and can be found playing fretless bass in Less Deluxe, an improvisational trio.

In addition to offering private drum instruction, drummer Chris Lyons plays with both The Langley Project  as well as with the Marc Sincavage Band. Like Kyle Espisito, he was also a member of  George Baker's group.

Robert Politzer, on rhythm guitar, is the man who conceived of this special evening, and together with Craig Graham, has put together this accomplished group. Robert is a singer/songwriter and long time Grateful Dead fan and has been playing gigs with Craig Graham and Aaron Minsky under the name of the Grateful Trio.