Music / Katie Glassman
Katie Glassman has a sparkling voice, a fast and playful fiddling style (acquired via serious study with Texas legends and jazz and classical masters) and songs that freshly interpret genres from vintage jazz to Western swing and bluegrass — all of which converge on SNAPSHOT, a perfect sonic representation (or snapshot, if you will) of her current work.
The March 2012 release expresses a fiddling love affair Glassman began at age 9. Inspired by old-time Texas music, she began playing by ear, honing her skills during countless competitions throughout the West. In 1998, she won the National Junior Fiddle Championship in Weiser, Idaho; in 2000, the National Young Adult Fiddle Championship; and in 2002, she placed fifth in that contest’s National Grand Champion Division. In 2011, she won the National Western Stock Show championship, making her the current Colorado State Fiddle Champion. She also judged the National Oldtime Fiddle Competition in 2001 and 2010.
Glassman has traveled far and wide to study with her heroes, including legendary fiddle players Wes Wesmoreland, Jimmie Don Bates, Carl Hopkins, Tonya Hopkins, Paul Anastasio and Joey McKenzie.
She’s also become part of the intricate, diverse and treasured aural tradition that is fiddle playing. In 1994, Glassman opened the Fiddle Parlor Studio in Denver, where she teaches inspired fiddlers of all ages — while also leading the Katie Glassman Band and playing with The Bloomers and Impromptu, a gypsy jazz group.
Glassman studied jazz and classical violin at the University of Colorado under jazz pianist Chip Stephens and violinist Jennifer John. She played in the top CU jazz combo, was awarded the Outstanding Performer Award at the Abilene Jazz Festival and was first runner-up for the IAJE International Sisters of Jazz competition. In 2004, she graduated with a degree in music performance and the first certificate in jazz studies awarded to a violinist.
In 2007, Glassman became only the second American student to attend the Centre Musique Didier Lockwood in France, where she earned a Certificate Avec Mention Bien after a year of study.
In addition to the afore-mentioned bands, Glassman’s performing credits include the Gypsy Swing Revue, Charlie Provenza, Randall McKennan, The Quiet American (Aaron Keim), Sean McGowan, Andy Stein, Liz Masterson, Mike Music Band, Grant Gordy, Swing Chicks, David Williams, Justin Donovan, Pickin’ on the Porch, Pastor Mustard, The String Cheese Incident’s Bill Nershe and the Boulder Acoustic Society.
Watch for Glassman concerts and performances behind the release of SNAPSHOT starting in early March.
Media Contact: Heidi Labensart, 512.478.0578, heidi@mcguckinpr.com
