Bent String performs a mix of early American roots music, including early jazz, acoustic blues, and originals . The quartet centers on the vocals of Kari Ann Rutushin and underpinned with the feel of jazz age swing. With Reed Simon’s hot violin, Kevin Richards on acoustic guitars and Cleveland Blues Hall of Fame upright bassist, Raymond  DeForest. 

Kari is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Champion, OH. and is a professional vocalist with a decade of sharing stages across Northeast Ohio. She entertains with her uke, piano, washboard, and flute in the styles of jazz, folk, R&B, country, and pop.

Ray is Bent String's all-star bassist and vocalist. And a Cleveland Blues Hall of Fame member. Ray is an acoustic and electric bass master who teaches jazz, blues, and other styles of roots music at Musicologie in Cleveland Heights.

Reed is the up front soloist in Bent String. He also works with the music group the Hot Club of Cleveland, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, and Hot D’Jang, performing swing, bebop and beyond. 

Reed performs in the Bluegrass Band, Lost Bob and the Ozone Ramblers and has been known to light op the room with a stomping fiddle tune.

Kevin plays many different guitar styles. He is recognized by the Ohio Arts Council as a master musician in the Piedmont guitar style. He also plays mandolin, fiddle and banjo. Kevin founded the non-profit organization Roots of American Music in 1999, and served for over two decade in various roles.

$20 donation requested.