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American acoustic bluegrass band From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Special Consensus is an acoustic bluegrass group led by banjoist Greg Cahill.[2][3]
The Special Consensus | |
|---|---|
The Special Consensus in 2011 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois |
| Genres | Bluegrass music |
| Years active | 1975—present |
| Labels | Compass Records, Pinecastle Records, ShyTown Records, Turqouise Records, Acoustic Revival Records, Tin Ear Records |
| Members | Greg Cahill (banjo) Brian McCarty (mandolin) Dan Eubanks (upright bass) Greg Blake (guitar)[1] |
| Past members | (see Past Members section below) |
| Website | Official website  |
In 1973, graduate student Cahill jammed with other bluegrass musicians at the University of Chicago Folk Festival. They began playing house parties, but in 1975 Cahill and bassist Marc Edelstein decided to pursue a music career for a few years as Special Consensus.[4] The initial line-up included Cahill, Edelstein, Jeremy Raven (mandolin), Jim Iberg (guitar), and Jim Hale (fiddle).[5]
The band name was inspired by a series of books written by Carlos Castenada about rituals of the Yaqui Indians. Special Consensus was a state where spiritual and physical good things physically came together. Plus, a band is a consensus of musicians providing performance and inspiration.[6]
As of 2021, the Special Consensus membership has included 18 guitarists, 12 bass players, 18 mandolin players, and two fiddlers. Bandleader Greg Cahill has been the one consistent member through the band's history.[7]
Special Consensus tours frequently across the U.S. Every other year, the band has also toured Ireland and the United Kingdom, through at least 2017.[8]
In 1984, The Special Consensus initiated the Traditional American Music (TAM) Program, in which they introduce students and teachers to bluegrass in schools across the country. Cahill estimates TAM has reached approximately one million children.[4]
Special Consensus has also been involved with IBMA's Bluegrass In The Schools (BGIS) program. Cahill has been chairman of the BGIS Committee. He and his wife Jackie wrote a BGIS Implementation manual. In addition, Special Consensus provided the instrumentation for a Discover Bluegrass DVD.[7]
The group is a two-time Grammy nominee for "Best Bluegrass Album of the Year" for the 2012 album Scratch Gravel Road, and the 2018 album Rivers and Roads.[9][10]
In 2016, Special Consensus was awarded the IBMA Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year for their version of "Fireball."[11]
Every five years, current and past members of the Special Consensus gather for and perform in an anniversary concert, often at Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago.[12]
Alumni of the Special Consensus include:
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