No Strings Attached

An adventurous and eclectic string ensemble, No Strings Attached merges longstanding traditions with bold experimentation that dismantles expectations surrounding string groups. This award-winning quartet first assembled in Blacksburg, VA, in 1978, its members arriving from markedly different musical origins. Bob Thomas supplies vocals and handles acoustic bass, bass clarinet, and bass saxophone after prior immersion in jazz, rock, and bluegrass, whereas fellow vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Wes Chappell entered from a rock & roll milieu. Randy Marchany, who trained as a classical pianist, contributes hammer dulcimer and keyboards, while harmonica virtuoso Pete Hastings, expert on both chromatic and diatonic models, completes the roster.

The group’s recordings encompass traditional acoustic material, original songs, and selections by Dave Brubeck, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, and the Chieftains. No Strings Attached has issued several albums and wrote and performed the theme for the PRI radio program World Café. Live presentations incorporate an extensive instrumental palette that includes hammer dulcimers, bouzouki, pennywhistle, flute, kalimba synthesizers, clarinets, saxophones, and even a Slinky employed for percussion.