Missy Raines & the New Hip
indie rocks bluegrass vibe meets a deep jazz groove
About the Band:
Missy Raines & The New Hip blur the lines between jazz, bluegrass, and rhythm’n’blues- redefining the acoustic/electric/hybrid landscape. Is it ‘jam jazz’? ‘jazz grass’? ‘rhythm’n’blues-grass’?
Doesn’t matter what you call it. The New Hip, led by multi award-winning bassist Missy Raines, delivers a powerful punch of groove-based (and BASS-ed groove) lines, soulful vocals, and full on funk rave-ups.
“…an ensemble perfectly balanced between brilliantly composed precision and equally brilliant spontaneity.” Jon Weisberger, The Nashville Scene
Drawing from a deep well of songwriters who specialize in the sophisticated to the intimate- Bonnie Raitt, Ed Snodderly and Pierce Pettis among them- Missy Raines & The New Hip add their own vibey-oh- so-laid-back tunes and outright rocking romps to the mix. This is an ensemble perfectly balanced between brilliantly composed precision and equally brilliant spontaneity.
Using bass, guitars, mandolin and drums, the territory The New Hip covers is broad and the compass is set by Raines, planted right in the center of the stage directing with her bass every bit as much as she’s playing it.
Break the box your music comes in.
“…The New Hip features some deft singer-songwriter vocal change-ups, as well as
musically witty instrumentals that cross over into what could just as
well be labeled progressive jazz.”
-Wall Street Journal
“Raines continues to reach far beyond the confines of bluegrass with her inventiveness…Her roots remain distinctively bluegrass, while her originals and arrangements reflect her eclectic taste.” -Strings Magazine
“With a string of high profile gigs and seven bluegrass Bassist of the Year awards behind her—Raines offers her solo debut, Inside Out. The CD showcases the range of Missy’s talent, as she leads her quintet of young acoustic aces through bluegrass, newgrass, pop, and jazz terrains with solid yet inventive support, fluid solos, and engaging vocals.”
-Bass Player Magazine
“MerleFest Bands To Watch” “Missy Raines and the New Hip are another much-buzzed-about band on the scene these days. Pulling from contemporary country, jazz, bluegrass, and their own imaginations, their music is smooth and sweet.”
-About.com
“She’s been named the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Bass Player of the Year a record seven times, but Missy Raines never lets displays of instrumental virtuosity get in the way of a good song or a swinging groove on her first album with nimble new backing group The New Hip. Inside Out rests comfortably at the sweet spot where bluegrass and jazz meet…”
Chris Neal -Country Weekly
“There is indeed great chemistry between the band members and it most definitely reflects to the music they create.
With her incredible bass playing aside, Missy’s steamy vocals are also unique for the genre. She has the voice of a jazz singer mixed with country and pop influences.”
- The Prog File
“If music was a corn field–then Missy Raines & The New Hip would be the big #%*# tractor plowing a big $#&* groove you could see from outer space.” -an innocent bystander
“One minute they’re a smokey jazz band, next minute they’re rocking out, it’s incredible.” -a happy club owner
Some background on Missy:
Missy Raines is the most decorated bass player in the history of the International Bluegrass Music Association- with 7 Bass Player of the Year Awards to her credit. A former member of the Grammy Nominated Claire Lynch Band, the acclaimed duo, Jim Hurst and Missy Raines, Missy is one of the most popular figures in the bluegrass community and a trailblazer in her field for as long as she’s been playing music. Her rich pedigree in the field reaches from legends such as Mac Wiseman, Kenny Baker, Josh Graves and Eddie and Martha Adcock, to contemporary artists like Peter Rowan, Laurie Lewis, Dudley Connell and Don Rigsby. Missy also toured and recorded with the rootsy, edgy Brother Boys.
