RUTH MCGINNIS & THE ACOUSTIC TRIO

Ruth and the Acoustic Trio are known for their Classical/Crossover repertoire - a magical mix of Celtic, Folk, Sacred, and Classical melodies. The Trio is a talented group of Nashville musicians - Karin Simmons on keyboard, John Pell on acoustic guitar, and Denis Solee on saxophone and flute - who have beautifully accompanied Ruth for many years.

This versatile ensemble provides the perfect backdrop for Ruth's elegant Juilliard tone and the eclectic style she developed while recording and performing with folk/bluegrass legend, John Hartford. Ruth and the Acoustic Trio have captivated crowds from church to corporate events, from grand concert stages to the intimate settings of bookstore cafes - enchanting audiences and winning fans throughout the country and around the world.

ACOUSTIC TRIO BIOS

KARIN SIMMONS comes by her love of music honestly. Born into a family of musicians, she was encouraged in her musical development from a very early age. She began piano lessons at the age of four, and studied classically until she was sixteen. Blending her piano studies with years of musical theater and church singing, Karin had no choice but to pursue her own career in music.

After receiving her Music Business degree from Anderson University, Karin moved to Nashville, Tennessee. She joined an internationally known music publisher on famed Music Row - and the ranks of those enduring long hours, stifled creativity and financial insecurity. Six years later, Karin decided it was time to put her hard-earned money where her mouth was. She quit her job as a song-plugger and began pursuing what she had only been able to watch for too many years: a career as a performing musician!

Presently, Karin takes great pleasure in assisting and accompanying the renowned violinist, author and inspirational wellness expert, Ruth McGinnis with whom she had the incredible opportunity to perform at the 2005 Inaugural festivities in Washington, D.C. She also has a very active teaching studio with numerous young students eager to learn to play the piano.

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JOHN PELL has performed and recorded with renowned artists such as Dolly Parton, Chet Atkins, Marvin Gaye, Burl Ives and with the Nashville Symphony. As a composer, John as written for National Geographic, The Nashville Ballet, The Vienna Nights Orchestra, The Guitars of Tennessee, Chet Atkins and many others. His contribution to Songprints was recognized with a Grammy nomination. He is a recipient of the Nashville Music Teacher's Association "Composer of the Year" award.

John has performed and given workshops through out the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. He is listed in "Who's Who Among America's Teachers." John currently maintains an active performance schedule as an artist in his own right, as well as with the Ruth McGinnis Acoustic Trio. He is on the faculty of the Belmont University School of Music where he serves as Coordinator of Guitar Studies.

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Master saxophonist DENIS SOLEE has been active in the Nashville recording industry for over thirty years. Adept on all woodwinds, his experience covers virtually every style and genre: from country and R&B to Broadway musicals, classical sounds to big bands and smaller jazz ensembles. His long list of recording credits includes projects by major artists Chet Atkins, Garth Brooks, Bela Fleck, Amy Grant, Michael McDonald, Roy Orbison, and many more.

Denis has appeared in concert with Natalie Cole, Sammy Davis Jr., Marvin Hamlisch, Bob Hope, Liza Minnelli, Mel Torme, and as a featured performer with the Nashville Symphony. He has been a revered member of the Ruth McGinnis Acoustic Trio for three years. For the past eight years, Denis has been a faculty member and performer at the Nashville Jazz Workshop, mentoring and teaching younger aspiring musicians.

As a solo artist, Denis has recorded four instrumental albums on the Green Hill Productions label. He recently released a fifth project, Sinatra On Sax for Village Square Music.