The Curhachestra is Curtis Hasselbring’s unique take on old sounds, modern compositional approaches and classic grooves. The combination of Curtis’s trombone and Raphael McGregor’s lap steel explore rootsy sounds bringing together elements of jazz, rock, country and experimental music for a vibe that is both traditional and contemporary. The band was originally conceived to play live versions of Curtis’s electronic music (aka Curha) but has evolved into vehicle for playing Curtis’s quirky, oddly catchy tunes.

 

The Curhachestra is Curtis Hasselbring (trombone/guitar), Raphael McGregor (lap steel), Adam Minkoff (electric bass) and Dan Rieser (drums). The group has played together since 2021 and released their first eponymous recording in March of 2025 on -est Recordings. In addition to the core quartet, special guests on the album include Nels Cline and Lisa Parrott.

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The Curhachestra released an EP of covers: The Kinks' "Lazy Old Sun" and the Pixies' "Bone Machine" in August of 2025. Bone Machine features special guest Jeff Lederer on tenor saxophone.

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"Hasselbring takes advantage of the unusual lineup’s available tonalities, and the combination of trombone and lap steel is quite engaging. Overall, the music is just a lot of fun to listen to, with elements of surf music, classic soundtracks, and warped Western music." -  Expose 

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