Banjo master to perform at EHCC in Hilo

World-renowned five-string banjo player Tony Trischka will perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the East Hawaii Cultural Center/Museum of Contemporary Art, 141 Kalakaua St. in Hilo.

Tickets are $10 at the door.

Concert producer Hal Glatzer says widely acclaimed Trischka was “among the first to take the banjo from bluegrass into jazz, and create original compositions for it in new genres of music.” He also cites National Public Radio host Tom Ashbrook, who calls Trischka “the great banjo liberationist.”

“Tony originated the banjo score for — and soloed in — the long-running Broadway folk-musical ‘The Robber Bridegroom,’” Glatzer said.

In 2007, Trischka was named Banjo Player of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association and was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 2011, Trischka was musical director and co-producer of the PBS documentary “Give Me the Banjo.”

Trischka also produced comedian, actor and musician Steve Martin’s Grammy-nominated album “Rare Bird Alert,” which features performances by Paul McCartney and the Dixie Chicks.

To learn more about Trischka, visit www.tonytrischka.com. For more information about the concert, email hal@halglatzer.com, call 895-4816 or visit ehcc.org.