Jeremy Kittel is one of the foremost of a new breed of fiddlers and violinists who easily navigates between a multitude of musical styles and traditions. Fluidly mastering this rich musical heritage, he also breaks exciting new ground while helping to redefine the role of his instrument.
Currently a full-time member of the Grammy-winning Turtle Island String Quartet, Kittel also leads his namesake group, the Jeremy Kittel Band, into exciting new acoustic music territory. He has toured and recorded with such musical giants as Mark O'Connor, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile, Paquito D'Rivera, the Assad Brothers, Stefon Harris, My Morning Jacket, and Darol Anger. He has appeared on the NPR radio show A Prairie Home Companion, has been a guest performer with multiple symphony orchestras, and has performed at venues as diverse as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Bonnaroo, and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.
His most recent solo recording, Chasing Sparks (Compass Records), clearly establishes Jeremy as a formidable composer and arranger as well as a violinist of the highest technical and musical sensibilities. This comes as no surprise given that his three previously released CDs span the musical spectrum from jazz to celtic, with a strong dose of originality and technical mastery.
One of the leading improvising violinists of his generation, Jeremy has a master's degree in jazz violin from the Manhattan School of Music, and he is the recipient of the 2010 Emerging Artist Award from his alma mater, the University of Michigan. He is also a National US Scottish Fiddle champion as well as a multiple winner of Detroit Music Awards and ASTA Alternative Style awards.
As a lover of song, and as a singer himself, Kittel enjoys collaborating with singers and lyricists from any genre. Most recently, he has arranged and recorded orchestral-style strings for two major-label 2011 releases: Abigail Washburn's "City of Refuge," and, in collaboration with the band members, on My Morning Jacket's "Circuital."
After roughly two decades of musical life, he is finally learning to play guitar and loving it. When he's not on tour, he often enjoys Monkey Conditioning.
