Guitarist

Comprising four Americans from different cultural backgrounds, the American Patchwork Quartet are activists as well as artists, striving to counter pervasive prejudices around the issues of race and immigration, performing a repertoire of centuries-old American folk songs made new with creative arrangements, drawing connections between the nation’s contemporary culture and its immigrant roots. Led by Grammy-winning vocalist Falu Shah, Grammy-winning guitarist/vocalist Clay Ross, 3x Grammy-winning drummer Clarence Penn, and highly acclaimed and sought-after bassist Yasushi Nakamura, APQ breathes new life into the folk canon, accepting accountability for the future of a country both hospitable and hostile towards those that believe most fervently in its dreams of equality.

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American Patchwork Quartet

McCarter Theatre Center

“Hers is a voice so big and so spine-tinglingly beautiful that on a nightly basis it does the near impossible” (The Guardian). Two-time GRAMMY winner Lisa Fischer joins Gullah groovemasters Ranky Tanky for an incendiary reprise of their sold out 2022 residency.

Known far and wide for her powerhouse vocals and prominent role in director Morgan Neville’s Oscar-winning 2013 music documentary 20 Feet From Stardom, Fischer won a GRAMMY for her #1 charting R&B single “How Can I Ease the Pain” and has toured for over two decades with the Rolling Stones, belting out “Gimme Shelter” to astonished audiences around the world. She’s contributed her soaring instrument to innumerable film soundtracks and performances alongside Luther Vandross, Tina Turner, Gregory Porter, Chris Botti, Sting, and industrial rock juggernaut Nine Inch Nails.

Ms. Lisa Fischer w/ Ranky Tanky

SFJAZZ Center

Get in a Gullah groove with GRAMMY® winning South Carolina band Ranky Tanky. Born of the Gullah culture of the Carolina Coast and Sea Islands, their music is a thrilling collision of traditional spirituals, call and response, folk songs, and playground chants, infused with hot American jazz. Featuring Quentin Baxter (Drums and Percussion), Kevin Hamilton (Bass), Clay Ross (Guitar and Vocals), Charlton Singleton (Trumpet and Vocals) and the phenomenal vocals of lead singer Quiana Parler.

Ranky Tanky with very special guest Ms. Lisa Fischer

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

“The quartet's goal is purposeful: to unleash music's magic to help counteract pervasive prejudices around immigration and race” (Montana Public Radio).

On a mission to reclaim the immigrant soul of American folk and roots music, Hindustani vocalist Falu Shah, Ranky Tanky guitarist and co-founder Clay Ross, acclaimed Issei bassist Yasushi Nakamura, and master jazz drummer Clarence Penn showcase the dynamic diversity of contemporary culture by reimagining timeless songs from America's past that highlight the country’s immigrant roots.

The Grammy® Award-winning, Charleston, SC-based quintet performs timeless music born from the Gullah culture of the Southeastern Sea Islands. Their debut album soared to the number-one position on the charts. Playful game songs, ecstatic shouts, and heartbreaking spirituals inspired by the Gullah tradition.  

Ranky Tanky

Clayton State University

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and storytelling with "This Land is Our Land," featuring the Martha Redbone Roots Project and the American Patchwork Quartet. This special performance is scheduled for February 28, 2025, at 8:00 pm, taking place in the iconic Zellerbach Hall. Tickets start at $36, with season subscriptions available now and single tickets going on sale at noon on August 6.

"This Land is Our Land" brings together the soulful voice of Martha Redbone, a renowned roots music singer and songwriter, with the genre-defying American Patchwork Quartet. Together, they explore the United States' rich cultural tapestry through music. Redbone, with her southeastern Cherokee/Choctaw and African American heritage, crafts uplifting songs that celebrate the human spirit. Her music, infused with the folk and blues sounds of her childhood in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, aims to share powerful, profound messages that resonate with audiences.

The performance will feature Martha Redbone on guitar and vocals, Clay Ross on guitar and vocals, Falguni Shah on vocals, Yasushi Nakamura on bass, and Ocie Davis on drums. This event is a part of Cal Performances’ Illuminations: Fractured History programming for the 2024-25 season, promising an evening that not only entertains but enlightens.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Cal Performances website. Don't miss this opportunity to experience a unique musical journey that celebrates the diversity and history of America through the power of song.

This Land is Our Land

University of California, Berkeley

The American Patchwork Quartet, led by Clay Ross, a guitarist and vocalist with multiple Grammy awards, blends classic American folk tunes with jazz, country, West African rhythms, and East Asian melodies. Ross, originally from the South and deeply passionate about roots music, also founded the highly esteemed Gullah group Ranky Tanky.

Clay Ross

Guitarist

Events

Upcoming events

Feb 15, 2025

Ranky Tanky · Spivey Hall

Feb 28, 2025

This Land is Our Land · Cal Performances

Apr 26, 2025

American Patchwork Quartet · Irvine Barclay Theatre

Past events

Feb 9, 2024

American Patchwork Quartet · McCarter Theatre Center

4 - 7 Jan, 2024

Ms. Lisa Fischer w/ Ranky Tanky · San Francisco Jazz

About

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