Water Bear emerged in 2000 to energize and engage the weary souls of upstate NY. Founding members were chief composer and violinist Mer Boel, violinist Ruth Roland, cellist Hank Roberts, and bassist Tim Reppert. When Hank left Water Bear to pursue his own projects, Chris White, cello, and Nate Richardson, guitar joined the line-up, with Bill Cowdery, piano, completing the ensemble.
Then Ruth moved to Baton Rouge, and first Ben Smith and then Ben Blechman fulfilled the signature two violin string section we craved, with Ben Blechman recording the Live at the Congo CD with us.
Currently involved in solo projects and living in Ithaca and around the country, the musicians of Water Bear occasionally meet up to create anew, most recently the summer of 2021. Mer Boel, Ruth Roland and her son Cole Roland, Nate Richardson and Bill Cowdery got together to play through pieces old and new.
In 2021, Joe Deninzon wrote: "Wow! I just listened to some songs on your bandcamp and Dorothy on YouTube. What an amazing blend of genres! I hear bluegrass, folk, a bit of funk, jazz, baroque influences, but it all flows together so naturally. If forced to classify, I would just call it New American music. Keep doing what you’re doing. This is a really fresh, original sound and the writing is excellent. Thank you so much for sharing. I genuinely enjoyed the music This is really awesome!" -- Joe Deninzon, violinist, composer & singer https://joedeninzon.com/
Bring the music to life by listening to our tracks and watching the videos!
