John Baumann
John Baumann has been playing music since dinosaurs roamed the earth. Armed with an acoustic guitar, a powerful rhythmic and poetic sense, and a voice that features immediacy and gritty honesty, John writes and performs songs about wayward relationships, the perils of love and life, and keen observations of the human condition. More storyteller than abstract poet or love song creator, John's songs have won the respect of the toughest critics, his musical peers. John's musical inspirations include some of the top songwriters of our time - Tom Waits, Joni Mitchell, John Prine, and Bob Dylan.
John coined the name Satori Bob with Pat O'Brien in the weird college town of Potsdam, NY, where he first began performing. He fell in with the extraordinary guitarist Bob Gagnon in Vermont after that, and the Satori Bob duo toured the Northeast and Colorado. John performed steadily for many years and eventually formed an excellent ensemble in Eugene, Oregon. With longtime compadre Devin Newman on banjo, gifted guitarist Russ Wilbanks, and accomplished bassist Jeff Langston, the group toured hard and released Strangely Familiar. Radio airplay and regional notoriety followed.
John enlarged the ensemble to a six-piece band called the Satori Bob Large Band, keeping Devin on banjo and adding Beau Eastlund on drums, Noah Kamrat on bass, Keenan Dorn on guitars and other stringed instruments, and Della Natasha Davies on violin. This band is represented on the album Stories Left Untold.
The most recent incarnation of Satori Bob features John with Kathryn Brunhaver on cello and vocals, Della Natasha Davies on violin, Joe Hughes on bass, and Devin Newman on banjo and percussion. Fresh off the release of the album String Theory, Satori Bob is in the midst of recording a very different album, one infused as much by Beckish indie influences and rich production as by rootsy Americana. Stay tuned for new music coming out throughout 2023.
Della Natasha Davies
Violinist Della Natasha Davies has played violin since the age of 9. She worked with respected violinist Aaron Rosand in high school, and performed regularly at Carnegie Hall and in New York youth symphonies. She has performed throughout Europe and in Beijing, China, and worked closely with Russian master Zakhar Bron while attending the prestigious Conservatory of the Arts in Zurich. Della performs with the Eugene Symphony, the Corvallis Symphony, and the Eugene Ballet Company. In 2014, she joined Rod Stewart and his band for a concert at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene.
Della brings an amazing energy and voice to Satori Bob, serving both as a compelling lead voice and a gorgeous melodic complement to John's vocals.
Kathryn Brunhaver
Cellist Kathryn Brunhaver's performance resume includes positions with the Eugene Symphony, and guest performances with the Oregon Bach Festival, the Rogue Valley Symphony, the Chamber Music Amici, Halie and The Moon, and numerous other regional ensembles. Kathryn writes and performs original songs, and brings a strong voice and unique cello approach to Satori Bob. Kathryn has been instrumental (sorry) in the arranging and performing of Satori Bob songs beginning with the album Stories Left Untold. Originally invited to join the group based on her great cello playing, to our surprise and delight, Kathryn turned out to be a stellar harmony vocalist as well.
Devin Newman
Banjoist Devin Newman embodies a very unique approach to that most venerable of Americana instruments, the banjo. Neither bluegrass nor country, Devin’s playing fuses guitar-like lead lines with staccato percussive voicings that blur the distinction between traditional banjo and newer melodic stylings. Inspired by musicians as diverse as Tom Waits, Tony Furtado, Bela Fleck, and Peter Gabriel, Devin brings a percussive musicality to Satori Bob. John and Devin have the longest musical collaboration of anyone in Satori Bob, and it shows in the complementary rhythms they bring to the songs.
Joe Hughes
Joe Hughes is the creator and CEO of Joe Hughes Productions and brings an impressive arsenal of tools to Satori Bob. Aside from his solid and inspirational acoustic and electric bass playing, Joe is responsible for the bulk of video and audio recording and mixing. In addition, he's a genuinely nice person.
Our Extended Family...
Beau Eastlund
Bad dog!
Drummer Beau Eastlund performs with many of the best musicians in the Pacific Northwest. From Halie and the Moon to the Sugarbeats to Mike Brewer to Satori Bob, Beau is the drummer's drummer for a wide variety of musical styles. Beau also owns and operates Golden Lab Recording, and brings his stellar engineering skills to countless musical projects, including Satori Bob recordings.
Beau both weaves through the music and provides a powerful rhythmic foundation for the melodies and harmonies of the other members. He is a truly fine human being, and his positive energy infuses his projects with light and professionalism.
Noah Kamrat
Bassist Noah Kamrat studied music at the University of Oregon in the early 90's and has played guitar and bass for over 30 years. Noah has performed in a number of bands and projects in New York and Eugene. He currently plays upright bass for several bands in his new home of Portland, OR. Noah's musical interests include Rock, Jazz, Americana, and Folk and influences range from Charles Mingus to Jimbo Wallace to Phil Lesh. Noah is also a founding member of the Eugene Music Collective which aspires to support local music and local non-profits.