Great Apes Of Vermont by Natural History

One of the most remarkable things about the group is that they improvise vocally and instrumentally at the same time, creating the illusion of more than three performers.

They have released two CDs, "Great Apes Of Vermont" and "Native Tongues," (nominated for Best New Age CD of the Year by Just Plain Folks, the world's largest songwriter organization). They have recently added spoken word to their repertoire with the politically barbed but often humorous poetry of Barry Hyman. (Check out "Perpetual War," "We Need Freaks," and "Plastic Wrap" on "Great Apes Of Vermont.") They always record live and without overdubs so as to capture the extraordinary improvisational spirit and spontaneity that is their specialty.

The Natural History sound is like nothing else: wild, unpredictable, playful, fearless, healing, liberating, and always resplendent with humor and joy.

More about the members of Natural History:

BARRY HYMAN performs, teaches, records, and writes about music from his home in the woods of upstate New York. He has been playing gigs since 1966 and teaching music privately since 1977. He is primarily a guitarist, but he also sings and plays sitar, pedal steel guitar, bass, harmonica, banjo, keyboard, and percussion. Hyman, a grant-winning composer, maintains a studio in Coila, NY where he blends music education with music therapy. He also runs a Summer Program teaching ensemble playing to young musicians, and is the author of "Smart Guitar," a 340-page holistic guitar manual. His most recent CDs include the solo album "More Than Halfway Home," "Evolve," which was recorded with the band ZUELA, and "In My Country," an album of spoken word set to music and produced by Derrik Jordan. His tune "The Journalist" is currently #13 on American Idol Underground's spoken word charts. All three CDs are available online at CDBaby.com and I-Tunes.

JARED SHAPIRO is known in the region as a cellist and music educator. He has recorded music for film and CD, including the Empire Brass Quintet's "King's Court and Celtic Fair" (Telarc), where he was featured on the cello and recorder, and The Bennington Cello Quartet's "20th Century Music for Cello Quartet (Opus One)." Some of his former teachers include George Finckel, Milford Graves, Vivian Fine, and Henry Brant. Shapiro is the former Music Director/Conductor of the Lakes Region Youth Orchestra at Castleton State College, and formerly the Dance Accompanist at Bennington

College. He is on the Faculty of the Michael Rudiakov Music Academy and is the Music Teacher at the Maple Street School in Manchester, VT. He sings and plays cello, recorder, and percussion in NATURAL HISTORY.

DERRIK JORDAN sings and plays 5 string electric violin, keyboards, kalimba, percussion, and guitar. A singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, he has produced jazz, folk, Native American, and award-winning children's recordings. He made his national recording debut on "Right As Rain," a compilation CD to benefit the rainforest that also featured Jerry Garcia and Paul Winter. Angela Bofill, O.C. Smith, and The Embers have recorded his songs. "Speak Through Me" from his CD "Expecting A Miracle" won 2nd place in the 2004 USA Songwriting Competition, the world's leading international songwriting contest. His other CDs include "Brazilliance," "SuperString Theory," and "Touch The Earth," which includes "Something's Gonna Change," winner of the 2002 Reggae Song of the Year from Just Plain Folks. He plays with many bands including Tony Vacca's World Rhythms and Simba.

For booking contact: Derrik Jordan (802)387-4050 hilljoy@sover.ne

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