Mais que uma banda, The River Country Trio consiste num verdadeiro projeto de resgate aos elementos tradicionais da música country norte-americana. Formado por três americanos radicados no Brasil - Steve Yolen (vocal e banjo),  Peter Warner (vocal, violão e banjo), Tony Lupidi (vocal, violão e bandolim) e, mais recentemente, pelo renomado contra-baixista Bruce Henri - o grupo tem como ponto forte o estilo simples e rústico, sempre evocado em suas marcantes apresentações. Num contra-ponto à utilização de aparatos e instrumentos eletro-eletrônicos cada vez mais utilizados nas produções musicais do gênero, The River Country Trio preserva em grande estilo as raízes da música-country.

Comandado pelo banjo do vocalista Steve Yolen, o grupo imprime, em suas apresentações, um ritmo dançante, característico dos festivais do interior dos Estados Unidos. As músicas em inglês e os acordes improvisados no banjo e bandolim dão o toque final à ambientação típica, cuja rusticidade costuma atrair os mais diferentes tipos de pessoas.

O repertório da banda, que também faz experimentações em cima do bluegrass - uma das vertentes da música country moderna - inclui Willie Nelson, John Denver, Bill Monroe e outros compositores da tradição country norte-americana. Com um estilo que lembra Earl Scruggs, o papa do bluegrass americano, o banjo de Steve Yolen confere ao espetáculo uma pitada de exotismo e originalidade.

The River Country Trio surgiu a partir da união de Steve e Peter (vocal, violão e banjo) e Tony Lupidi (vocal, violão e bandolim). Os dois primeiros, durante a década de 90, fizeram sucesso no Rio de Janeiro com as bandas Country Express e Comitiva Country. Steve e Country Express chegaram a se apresentar no programa "Domingão do Faustão" e na "People", uma das maiores e mais populares casas de música ao vivo da cidade à época, além de marcar presença em feiras agropecuárias e rodeios nas regiões sul e sudeste do país.

Em 2009, o contrabaixista Bruce Henri juntou-se ao grupo, imprimindo ainda mais qualidade ao ritmo do conjunto. Para mais informações sobre o Bruce, click no link abaixo:
Música de Raíz




The River Country Trio plays traditional American country music, bluegrass and gospel. The trio is the result of the collaboration of two longtime business partners and best friends who share a love of country and bluegrass music, Steve Yolen and Peter Warner. Steve, a journalist who has lived in Brazil since the early 1970s organized and led several successful country music bands in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro including the very successful band Country Express while continuing his daytime job as a journalist, editor and publisher.

In 1994, now with a new group, Comitiva Country, and a regular Thursday night date at the Sheraton Hotel in Rio, met Peter, an economist and international financial analyst, and invited him to join the band as the second guitar, second voice and second American in the group. Comitiva Country played a number of dates in and around the State of Rio de Janeiro but eventually disbanded in the late 1990s as the other members of the band eventually sought other employment.

Peter and Steve, however, remained close friends, working together in an English language translation business and socializing and playing music whenever possible. In early 2007, Tony Lupidi approached Peter about getting together and playing music. One afternoon Tony, Peter and Steve got together and began working out three-part vocal harmonies and instrumental arrangements for banjo, guitar and mandolin.

The three friends played together as often as possible and gradually worked up a repertoire of bluegrass and traditional country material suitable for performance in public. At the insistence of friends, and encouraged by the warm reception of their small but growing fan base, they began adding gospel tunes to their set lists. In 2008 they chose River Country Trio as the name for the group and began advertising and promoting their appearances.

The Trio by now had begun to develop a distinctive sound, based on close, very traditional and intuitive country harmonies. Their musical performances now included a mix of traditional country music, some popular standards of the 1960s and 70s, straight-ahead bluegrass and gospel music.

One of their first projects for 2009 was to record a music video, availing themselves of the opportunity to use the services of Greg Yolen, an award winning filmmaker and Steve’s son. The result was “Rocky Top”, filmed alongside a rock strewn mountain stream near Steve’s home in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Shortly thereafter, Bruce Henri joined the trio. A professional musician resident in Brazil since the late 1960s, Bruce brought a solid musical foundation to the Trio with his exceptional musicianship, creativity and his upright bass. The group now became known as the River Country Trio with Bruce Henri. Bruce pointed out with characteristic modesty that The River Country Quartet sounded like a chamber music ensemble.

The River Country Trio with Bruce Henri most definitely does not play chamber music! The group is focused on showcasing its vocal harmonies and subtle country arrangements of traditional tunes. Vocal leads are shared by all four members of the group, while instrumental leads are done mostly by Bruce and Steve, with an occasional fill-in from Peter and Tony. The result is a joyful “sound of music” played by people who thoroughly enjoy what they are doing.