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.

For more information on Kari Ann Rutushin visit here:

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 Simon

William Reed Simon is North East Ohio’s premier Jazz/Swing violinist. His music influences are many , including Stephane Grappelli, Joe Venuti, Duke Ellington and Stuff Smith, all giants of the earlier jazz swing age. 
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.

When not playing the violin, William Reed Simon the chairs the Art Department of Norte Dame college in South Euclid. 

Here's a video of Reed playing with the Hot Club of Cleveland

Kevin T. Richards

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. He has performed at major festivals including Merlefest and the National Folk Festival. He has been on staff teaching blues and swing  guitar at Augusta Heritage Center.

For more info on Kevin, visit www.KevinTrichards.com