Michael Daves & Jacob Jolliff
Michael Daves and Jacob Jolliff are two of America’s premier bluegrass talents who have joined forces to create an electrifying musical duo. Their performances are marked by high lonesome vocal harmonies and expert flatpicking, paying homage to classic guitar-mandolin “brother duets” while incorporating room for improvisation and innovative turns. The pair skillfully balance hard-core traditional bluegrass with experimental sounds, making their performances both authentic and refreshingly modern.
Michael Daves was born in Atlanta, Georgia, where he immersed himself in bluegrass from an early age, staying up late to play and sing in true Southern tradition. Now based in New York, Daves has been hailed as “a leading light of the New York bluegrass scene” by the New York Times. He has performed with legendary musicians such as Chris Thile, Steve Martin, and Tony Trischka, and his album “Sleep With One Eye Open” with Thile earned a Grammy nomination in 2011. Daves’ musical path has also embraced experimental music and jazz, which he explored while studying at Hampshire College in Massachusetts, adding a unique depth to his bluegrass artistry.
Jacob Jolliff has established himself as one of the most distinguished mandolinists in the contemporary bluegrass scene. While attending Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, he was a key member of the acclaimed New England roots band Joy Kills Sorrow. In 2012, Jolliff won the prestigious National Mandolin Championship in Winfield, Kansas. He has since collaborated with renowned artists such as Darol Anger, Sam Bush, Ronnie McCoury, Jerry Douglas, Tony Trischka, and David Grisman. Following the disbandment of Joy Kills Sorrow in 2014, Jolliff joined Yonder Mountain String Band and toured extensively until 2019. In 2022, he released a self-titled album with the Jacob Jolliff Band and toured with Béla Fleck as part of “My Bluegrass Heart.”
Experience the unparalleled chemistry and musical prowess of Michael Daves and Jacob Jolliff as they bring their dynamic bluegrass performances to life.
