The Hands Free

The Hands Free is a whimsical acoustic quartet, bringing together the creative voices of composer/performers James Moore (guitar & banjo), Caroline Shaw (violin), Nathan Koci (accordion), and Eleonore Oppenheim (bass). Drawing from an eclectic array of influences in classical, jazz and folk traditions, the group produces a unique and evocative blend of joyful melodies, lush sonic textures, and explosive improvisations.

The members of the group have been friends and collaborators for 20 years, navigating the music and art scenes of New York together as performers and composers. The individual members had each worked together in a variety of professional settings, but always found the most joy playing together in scrappy after hours folk jams. The Hands Free evolved as a way to celebrate their shared musical passions and explore new spaces of creativity, collaboration, and spontaneity.

James Moore is a guitarist, composer, and bandleader who has earned the titles of “local electric guitar hero” by Time Out New York and "model new music citizen" by The New York Times. James enjoys an active career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer, and collaborates in a range of music, theater, dance, and multimedia projects. He is a founding member of the raucous electric guitar quartet Dither and the sloppy-math/avant-grunge rock band Forever House.

Caroline Shaw is a musician who moves among roles, genres, and mediums, trying to imagine a world of sound that has never been heard before but has always existed. She works often in collaboration with others, as producer, composer, violinist, and vocalist. Caroline is the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in Music, several Grammys, and an honorary doctorate from Yale. Her favorite color is yellow, and her favorite smell is rosemary.

Nathan Koci is a collaborative performer and music director working across disciplines including theater, folk music, jazz, contemporary classical music, dance, and karaoke singing. His music direction credits include Illinoise (Justin Peck/Sufjan Stevens), Hadestown (Nat’l Tour; Anais Mitchel/Rachel Chavkin), Daniel Fish’s Oklahoma! (Broadway, West End), and Ted Hearne’s The Source (SF Opera, LA Opera, BAM). He has also performed for William Kentridge’s The Great Yes The Great No, Guy Klucevsek’s Bellows Brigade, Maira Kalman and John Heginbotham’s The Principles of Uncertainty, and The Solomon Diaries, a multi-volume duo project with composer/clarinetist Sam Sadigursky.

Eleonore Oppenheim is a genre surfing musical polyglot. Her projects include big dog little dog (a duo with composer/violinist Jessie Montgomery) and an acoustic trio with art-pop auteur Glasser and multi-instrumentalist Robbie Lee. Eleonore has worked with established composers including Philip Glass, Steve Reich, and Meredith Monk, in composer-led ensembles like Missy Mazzoli’s “all-star, all female” bandsemble Victoire, and with many other artists from the indie rock, jazz, and folk worlds. In addition to writing and arranging music, she has established herself as a go-to chamber musician, soloist, and recording artist. Eleonore enjoys working in opera and theater as well, and has held chairs in several productions including the Broadway shows “Oklahoma!”, “Illinoise”, and “Floyd Collins”.