“So great to hear the next generation of string wizards dive in and continue the tradition forward.
— Mike Marshall
Founded by award-winning composer and multi-instrumentalist Jesse Jones, EZRA is Jacob Jolliff (mandolin), Max Allard (banjo), Craig Butterfield (double bass), and Jones (guitar and piano). EZRA’s self-titled debut album includes nine works by Jones and was released with Adhyâropa Records.
“…an incredibly potent album with a high string wizardry quotient and lots of heart.”
“New out of this world progressive string music”
— Jason Marck, Radio Z, WBEZ Chicago
“…what I can only call an acoustic supergroup.”
“…an adventurous approach to modern acoustic string music, clearly informed by bluegrass.”
— John Lawless, Bluegrass Today
“…is this one going to be in my year-end favorite jazz or roots playlist? Maybe both!”
— Gary Whitehouse, A Green Man Review
“★★★★★…nothing less than a revelation.”
EZRA is a collective of classical, jazz, rock, and bluegrass musicians focused on the creation of genre-crossing and style-inclusive new music. The ensemble consists of award-winning composer and multi-instrumentalist Jesse Jones on guitar and piano, world-renowned mandolinist Jacob Jolliff, banjo virtuoso Max Allard, and bassist extraordinaire Craig Butterfield.
With a focus on collaboration, the group has performed and recorded with musical polymath and instrument inventor Mark Stewart, composer Elizabeth Ogonek, pianist/Moog-master Xak Bjerken, and has been in residence at several universities, including Cornell, Oberlin College, University of South Carolina, UNC Chapel Hill, Appalachian State University, and East Carolina University. EZRA’s second and third albums, which feature these additional musicians, are already in the works for 2025.
photo by Drew Baron
