Gypsy Jazz drew Ivan Strunin away from classical music and the playing of the Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt opened his eyes to the possibilities of the fiddle.  When he came to Athens it was his desire to create a band to play the Jazz Manouche, so he found four of the best players in the area who are steeped in this music and the “Bones of St. Michael” was born. 

 The Bones of St. Michael bring to Georgia,  Jazz Manouche in the tradition of the Hot Club of France.  Back in the late 1920’s in the ferment of the French dance club scene, a new music was brought to life.  Combining the acoustic instrumentation and harmonic sensibilities of the Gypsy caravans with the hot swing of jazz.  The most famous practitioners of this music were the great guitarist, Django Reinhardt and the jazz violinist, Stephane Grappelli.  Together they formed the Hot Club of France.  The music inspired by these two great musicians thrives today and is played all over the world.

The Bones are made up of talented veteran musicians well known in the Athens music scene.  All are well versed in this music and we make no bones about it.  On any given night you might hear, in addition to Gypsy Jazz, some Grisman inspired Dawg music or even a little Parker or Monk.

The Bones are:

Ivan Strunin (fiddle, vocals)

Ivan Strunin cut his teeth playing the in the honky-tonk country bars of Chicago in the 1980’s. He has since played in blues bands, western swing bands, bluegrass bands and rock bands in various locations around the world, the last being Hong Kong before he moved to Athens.  Since moving to Athens, he’s currently playing with Susan Staley and Maggie Mason Hunter in the Humdingers, Maggie Mason Hunter and Tommy Jordan in Maggie and the Mason Jars and occasionally in the western swing band, Doug Deluxe and the Rodeo Cowboys.  

Rob Southerland (mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin)

Rob is a true renaissance man. Rob is also a symphonic cellist a talented luthier and a potter of great renown.

Dick Daniels (bass)

Dick is probably the busiest bass player in Athens.  He has played with many well known musicians and currently plays with, among others, The Hobohemians, String Theory,  and The Lucky Jones. 

 Antoon Speters (guitar, vocals). 

Antooon has played with many well-known musical aggregations including the Hobohemians.  His rich baritone and lush guitar create the mood and takes you back to the smoky cafes of Old Paris.

John Prechtel (guitar)

The Band had Garth Hudson and the Bones of John Prechtel.  His deep understanding of the harmonic structure of this music along with his tasty solos are an integral part of the Bones.