(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Acoustic guitar wizards Grant Gordy and Ross Martin celebrate the release of their new duo recording, “Year of the Dog,” at Club Helsinki Hudson on Friday, October 7, at 9pm. The Hudson Valley’s own The Lucky Three will warm up the crowd for the musically dazzling and creative duo.

With a large helping of mutual admiration and the desire to explore different genres and traditions on acoustic guitar, Grant Gordy and Ross Martin’s musical relationship began with the joy and spontaneity of jam sessions. Over the course of many years, these informal sessions led to talk of “Let’s play a gig!” which led to talk of “Let’s make a record!” which led to “Year of the Dog,” the release of which they’ll be celebrating at Helsinki Hudson.

Searching for a balance between composed melodies and improvisation, Gordy and Martin’s repertoire ranges from fiddle tunes to jazz standards, original compositions to traditional hymns to Bach, each piece like another paragraph in an ongoing musical conversation.

Gordy is best known for having held the guitar chair in the legendary David Grisman Quintet for six years, as well as working with such musical luminaries as Edgar Meyer, Steve Martin, Tony Trischka and Darol Anger.

Flatpicking Guitar Magazine says about Gordy, “A ?atpicking master in his own right, Grant has also quickly evolved into an underground acoustic guitar legend.” No Depression chimes in, “Grant Gordy is a special musician. While being a bluegrass musician at heart, Grant’s incredible breadth of harmonic and rhythmic knowledge from jazz gives him a strikingly singular voice on the guitar; one that is worth giving your attention.”

Martin is a versatile guitar wizard who plays jazz, bluegrass, country, folk, experimental and classical music, and has toured and performed with a wide range of artists including Matt Flinner, Tony Furtado, Ron Miles, Mollie O’Brien, The Motet, Caroline Herring, Dwele, and Sonya Kitchell.

The Lucky 3 (formerly The Lucky 5) is a hard-swinging, Hudson Valley jazz band that blends swing and Gypsy jazz to create a unique, foot-stomping blend of music that appeals to a wide range of music lovers. They perform both original compositions as well as putting a new spin on old jazz standards.

For reservations in The Restaurant or in the club call 518.828.4800.