Bob Dieterlen and I had the good fortune to attend IBMA’s Fan Fest this Saturday in Nashville.

The highlight of the day for both of us was the Krüger Brothers after-hours showcase sponsored by Deering Banjos. The Krüger Brothers are Jens (banjo) and Uwe (guitar) Krüger who grew up in Switzerland before moving to the United States to pursue careers as full-time bluegrass musicians. Joel Landsberg on bass is from New York, NY.

The Krüger Brothers music defies categorization. It’s not that it isn’t bluegrass. It is bluegrass and yet, it is so much more. The Krügers’ repertoire includes a seemingly endless supply of musical ideas drawn from an endless well of genres, musical nuance and emotions.

A Krüger Brothers performance is not one that you merely sit and listen to. A Krüger Brothers performance, and their music, is something you experience. While Jens is noted and revered for pushing the long-held notion of what can, and perhaps, should be played on the American 5-string banjo through the stratosphere, the real essence and magic of the Krüger Brothers lies in the group as a whole.

Jens, Uwe and Joel, as a unit, bring to the instrumental side of bluegrass and acoustic music that same unity, awareness and cohesiveness that is often alluded to when discussing the harmony vocals found among siblings in a family band. That, which, if we didn’t know better, would be easy to believe that we, the listener, are hearing a single musical being.

During the Saturday evening showcase, the Krüger Brothers, along with some special guests including Ron Block and Terry Baucom, captivated the near standing room only crowd with more than two hours of bluegrass and acoustic music. At the root of it, a Krüger Brothers performance is a roller coaster of a musical conversation among three musicians. The experience is one of anticipation, excitement, reflection, exhileration and when the ride comes to an end, you can’t wait to get back in line to experience it once again.

Jens Krüger during the Krüger Brothers after hour Showcase at IBMA World of Bluegrass Oct. 4, 2008.

Uwe Krüger during the Krüger Brothers IBMA After Hours Showcase Oct. 4, 2008 at IBMA’s World of Bluegrass in Nashville, TN.

Joel Landsberg, bassist for the Krüger Brothers on stage during the Kruger’s IBMA after hours showcase.

The Krüger Brothers IBMA Showcase with special guest Ron Block Saturday Oct. 4, 2008.

Jens Krüger & Ron Block at the Krüger Brothers IBMA after hours showcase Sat. Oct 4 during IBMA’s World of Bluegrass week