Musicians' Spotlight

Erin Ezekial is the melody, Paul Ezekial is the rhythm. The hypnotic result is Erin & The Project, a blend of soul, blues, jazz, r&b, and rock which they call "soul-ternative."

Fronting the Americana-folk band, Little Jane and The Pistol Whips, singer-songwriter and lifelong Bozeman resident Ashly Holland has become one of the most recognizable faces and voices in Montana.

Taking the ancient instruments of Japanese Taiko music into new realms, the four-member On Ensemble bring their jazz drumming, rock 'n roll bass, and electronic music together to create a repertoire of ground-breaking music.

Missoula art-folk-rock band Butter (Lisena Brown and Hermina Harold) support their well-crafted songs with atmospheric soundscapes.

Fingerstyle guitarist David Browne Murray, a winner of the Six String Theory guitar contest at the Crown of the Continent Guitar Festival in Bigfork, Montana, joins host John Floridis to talk shop. A highlight: David's practice routine, which merges guitar exercises and computerized flight simulation programs.

Since arriving in Missoula five years ago, keyboardist and vocalist Josh Farmer has carved out a niche in the Montana music scene, first as a "go to" pianist for groups including Grandfather Glen, and now fronting the Josh Farmer Band.

Mandolinist and composer Chad Fadely returns to Musician's Spotlight. Known throughout the state for his fret work in numerous bluegrass and newgrass groups, Chad discusses his new recording of original compositions.

Kalispell native Kristi Neumann moved to Nashville, diving into the country music scene and recording two CD's while carving out a niche for herself in a notoriously competitive music scene. Returning to her home state of Montana was a decision by the independent musician to take more control of her career as a singer-songwriter.

It's not often that a guest on Musician's Spotlight cites both Paul Simon and Mandarin pop music as her main influences, but pianist, composer and singer-songwriter Vienna Teng is not your typical musician. She's released several recordings and performs regularly, but the former Cisco Systems software engineer is also working on an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Pearl Django is one of the Northwest's leading purveyors of "Gypsy jazz," the style created by guitarist Django Rheinhardt, violinist Stephane Grappelli, and the Hot Club of France. Through personnel changes, the band, led by violinist Michael Gray, continues to inspire enthusiastic audiences.