Duo has talent as wide as a Montana sky

When Montana Skies takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Brewery Arts Center's Performance Hall, the audience will be experiencing an evening that combines "the full spectrum of an orchestra crossed with the energy of a rock band."

Montana Skies is a husband and wife duo comprised of Jonathan Adams on guitars and Jennifer Adams on guitar and six string electric cello, an instrument most have never seen before, let alone heard.

They set the stage for an evening of "classical fusions, nuevo flamenco and jazz influences" that includes recognizable covers of music by Pink Floyd and Charlie Daniels, to "House of the Rising Sun," all arranged in new ways, as well as original compositions. Montana Skies recently released their fourth CD and first DVD, "Live from Mable Barnes Amphitheatre."

"I love how (the project turned out) since live performance has a great quality with the audience and how it captures the energy we felt while playing," Jennifer said. "We gave the people what they wanted and while there's less choice for how we change things, since it's recorded live, it turned out beautifully and it is what it is."

Mixed by John Keane, whose credits include production work for REM, the experience while different from creating in the studio, captured what it is to play live.

"Montana Skies is really passionate about what our music and the sincerity of what we do and the sincerity of the people is symbiotic."

Jon and Jennifer met while they were individually completing their degrees and pursuing classical music goals at the University of Georgia in Athens. They went on to complete their goals and this, combined with their passion for music, when the time came, made Montana Skies stronger, Jennifer said.

Seeing in one another the others' talent, skill and virtuosity drew each of them in and allowed them to see what was possible.

Jon plays mainly Spanish-style guitar, and by using the latest technology is able to produce different sounds from them using a technique called "looping," Jennifer said.

"People will definitely get their guitar fix, but the technology allows him to expand the boundaries of what he is able to do," she said. "The core of the overall style creates beautiful, sonorous tones."

Jennifer has played cello and guitar many years, but was lead to the six-string, electric cello when she found herself wanting to further explore her musical capabilities.

"This is a very unique instrument made by Ned Steinberger of Maine, and I had always wanted to play an electric cello," Jennifer said, adding she had another that simply "didn't do it" for her.

Her Steinberger though, excited her to the point that she now endorses Steinberger's cellos.

While based on a traditional, acoustic cello, the body, since the instrument is electric, is simply not there, but is streamlined. It retains the sounds and the high string captures the violin range while the low string captures the bass range.

"It encompasses the full spectrum of a string orchestra," she said.

Montana Skies' unique sound and presentation have had the duo performing throughout the United States, Canada and Asia, nearly half of each year.

And while every experience has been amazing, for Jennifer, it comes down to one thing.

"Really, my most favorite thing is drawing the bow across the instrument and hearing the tones," she said. "The simplicity of it moves me."

Tickets for this evening cost $22 for reserved seating and $18 for students, seniors and BAC members. Online ticket sales end two hours prior to the performance. Call 775-883-1976 or visit breweryarts.org for more information or to purchase tickets. To learn more about Montana Skies and to hear their music, visit montanaskiesmusic.com.