>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

A power-house mandolin player, John Reischman, will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church, 1612 Fourth St.

Also on stage will be his band, The Jaybirds, along with the Eastern Oregon University Fiddle Ensemble.

Reischman first became known to his fans in the early 1980s playing with The Tony Rice Unit and the Good Ol' Persons. Since then he has carved out a reputation in the elite upper ranks of mandolin players. He has lent his distinctive style to a growing list of recordings by musicians the likes of Scott Nygaard and Kate MacKenzie. He tours with the Bluegrass Signal, Gypsalero and a number of highly regarded individual performers.

The Jaybirds are Reischman's current performance project, four acoustic players from around the West: Jim Nunally, guitar and vocals, is a composer and producer from the San Francisco Bay area; Trisha Gagnon, bass and vocals, is from British Columbia; Nick Hornbuckle, 5-string banjo, is from Seattle; and Greg Spatz, fiddle, is from Spokane, Wash.

Their latest album, "Field Guide," is an impressive and energetic follow-up to the band's debut recording, "John Reischman and the Jaybirds." According to Tim Stafford of Blue Highway, "What emerges from this recording is a unique band sound in bluegrass, one decidedly traditional yet comfortable with original material."

This is the fourth year for the EOU Fiddle Ensemble, which was started to provide students the opportunity to study and perform different styles of music. The group features mandolins, guitars, banjo, bass and keyboards — along with fiddles — and is at home with Irish music, bluegrass, old-time fiddle music, western swing, 1930s and '40s jazz, cajun and klezmer

music.

Tickets for the concert are available at

La Grande Stereo and Music, Joe and Sugars and at Sunflower Books, for $10 per person or $7 for seniors and students. In Baker City, try Marilyn's Music Plus and Betty's Books.