The Band

Jim Andrews -- vocals, bass
Now that there's a physicist in the band, we've leapt out o' this world. Jim fools around with pair correlations, cascading, and local-field nonlinear opticals—nothing fazes him. He has been performing for pocket change since high school. Jim first picked up the bass because he lost the high end of his hearing range after an Emerson, Lake and Palmer concert in the 70's. Not the Who. What?

Jim's Related Links:
Faculty Web Page
Nin Andrews

Kelly Bancroft -- vocals
Besides putting up with a band full of guys, Kelly coordinates the SMARTS program in Youngstown. In the studio, Kelly humbles her bandmates by getting her vocals in single takes every time. In fact, the Leapers swear she can sing two harmony parts simultaneously. Kelly was once even a professional lounge singer, back before she could vote (or drink).

Kelly's Related Links:
SMARTS web site
The Ragdale Foundation
Cortland Review
XConnect

Phil Brady -- vocals, bodhrán, tin whistle, harmonica
As the Leap’s front man and namesake, Phil’s repertoire consists of poems and songs learned on the road from Berkeley to Ballydehob to Bukavu. Phil learned the bodhrán first-hoof from Moses’ goat. Growing up in Queens, which his parents pronounced 'Galway,' Phil thought Beatles were bugs and Tommy Makem was Elvis.

William Greenway -- vocals, guitar
He’s back!! After a year wandering the hills of Wales, the old man has returned for another season of poems, pints, and pissing contests. He’s brought a sheaf of new songs and stories, drawing on a wide variety of genres from contemporary southern to Welsh and Scottish ballads. William's written the anthem for the men of Brady's Leap, "Beta Male Blues."

William's Related Links:
University of Akron Press
Word Press
Faculty Web Page

Istvan Homner -- vocals, guitar, mandolin
W. "Istvan" Homner is a virtuoso on the mandolin, contributing beautiful textures and echoes of folk, bluegrass, country, and Gospel. He also engineers the Leap’s sound, and directs the production of their CD’s at Rosewood Studios. Istvan has been involved with performing and recording music most of his life. His multi-talented achievements landed him the 1995 and 1998 I. G. M. A. artist award.

Istvan's Related Links:
Rosewood Records

Steve Reese -- vocals, guitar, violin, banjo
As well as writing the Leap's songs, setting poems to music, and arranging traditional songs, Steve sings lead vocals and harmony and will play anything that comes with strings, holes or skin. His musical repertoire spans rock, folk, country, blues, as well as the New-Celtic mode he's pioneering. Having performed both solo and in several bands during his college and grad school years, he's also basically a jukebox with hair. Lots 'o hair.

Steve's Related Links:
Enough Light To Steer By

In their spare time the Leapers (except Istvan, who's immune to the academic bug) teach at Youngstown State University. Among them they have published seventeen books and hundreds of poems and articles, won numerous national and international awards, and demolished untold barrels of the water of life. Recent highlights include 2004 and 2006 National Book Award finalist awards and a 2007 NEA International Literature Award for Greek translation for Etruscan Press , founded and edited by Brady, and the reading of more of Will Greenway's poems on NPR's Writer's Almanac.

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Last Updated: 12/6/05

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