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Mark Stoffel
Originally from Munich, Germany, Mark Stoffel spent literally decades traversing between two continents before finally settling down in Southern Illinois in 2001 with his wife Mary and his children, Finn and Oliver. Sealing his decision to make the United States his permanent home, he became a citizen in 2016. A self-described bluegrass music “addict,” he was introduced to the music in 1979, when as a teenager, he wanted a ukulele for Christmas and was mistakenly given a mandolin instead. The flub turned into a virtue, as he parlayed a classic mandolin instructional book; occasional exposure to bluegrass through radio and concerts by touring American musicians; and accumulated experience in folk, rock and bluegrass bands into a lifelong artistic pursuit. During this time, he began to connect with American artists, helping to arrange tour dates and providing hospitality— including to the artist who would become his future employer, Chris Jones. As he spent more time in the United States, his tasteful approach to playing, growing expertise in sound engineering and supportive harmony vocal abilities earned him increased attention — first in regional acts, then with Jones’ singer/songwriter wife, Sally Jones, and finally with Jones himself, whose Night Drivers Mark joined around the time of the band’s 2009 recording, Cloud Of Dust. Today his tasteful mandolin performances can be heard on countless recordings, including his first solo release, One-O-Five, and a string of Chris Jones and the Night Drivers projects, including Run Away Tonight (2015), Made To Move (2017) and the most recent, The Choosing Road (2019). “Mark is one of the most musical mandolin players I’ve ever played with,” says Jones. “ Mandolin players are really impressed with his playing everywhere we go.” Yet despite his passion for bluegrass, Stoffel confesses ironically that he is highly allergic to — yes, really — Kentucky Bluegrass.

Shad Cobb
Shad Cobb’s intricate and soulful style of playing has been compiled over the years from many of his early influences. The playing of such legendary fiddlers as Vassar Clements, Sam Bush, Art Stamper, Mark O’Connor, Kenny Baker and Byron Berline helped develop his playing throughout the earliest part of his musical career. Shad’s present day virtuosity puts him at the forefront of top fiddlers in the country. Whether on one of his recordings or a live performance, the playing of Shad Cobb is quite an amazing thing to witness.

Dan Eubanks
Multi-instrumentalist Dan Eubanks is the current upright bassist (since 2013) of the
internationally recording and heavily touring bluegrass band and Compass recording artists Special Consensus out of Chicago. The band is known as a perennial favorite amongst bluegrass fans of all tastes and has been twice Grammy nominated for Best Bluegrass Album, once during Dan’s tenure, and in his time in the band has been awarded with seven trophies in various categories including Album of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association.
A native of the St. Louis area, after receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Jazz Studies from Webster University, and working as a freelance bassist and bandleader in Jazz, Salsa, Funk and Rock bands, as well as serving as adjunct faculty at several local colleges and universities, Dan moved to Nashville TN in 2004, and embarked on a career that included session and touring work in Bluegrass, Americana, Blues, Latin Jazz, Salsa, Country, and Rock. Dan has also released two full length recordings under his own name as a solo artist
in the roots music realm. Having recently moved back home to the city of St Louis, he is still maintaining a busy touring and recording schedule as well as playing and teaching locally once again. Dan’s recent teaching duties have included online adjunct music professor at East Tennessee State University, in their Bluegrass, Old Time, and Roots Music program, and numerous acoustic music camps, private teaching, and workshops across North America.