Fractal (Definition)

fractal |ˈfraktəl|

noun

a curve or geometric figure, each part of which has the same statistical character as the whole. Fractals are useful in modeling structures (such as eroded coastlines or snowflakes) in which similar patterns recur at progressively smaller scales, and in describing partly random or chaotic phenomena such as crystal growth, fluid turbulence, and galaxy formation.


Fractal Folk (Band)

fractal |ˈfraktəl| folk |fōk|

noun

a montage of musicians performing distinctive original music, each part contributing to the musical character of the whole. Fractal Folk defies classification (such as rock, blues, or jazz), reaching across genre for their own musical niche, which may partly be described as random or chaotic phenomena such as crystal growth, fluid turbulence, and galaxy formation.

KRYS BAKER

Accordion, Alto Saxophone, Acoustic Guitar, Bowed Psaltry, Clarinet, Flute, Hammered Dulcimer, Harmonica, Percussion, Piano, Recorder, Tenor Saxophone, Trumpet, Lead & Backup Vocalist.

A classically trained musician, Krys began singing and playing clarinet at the age of six and then added various other traditional instruments to her repertoire. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, where she focused in saxophone. Presently, she teaches music at a local elementary school, and is band leader and main composer for “Fractal Folk.”


LEA COX

Composer Percussion, Lead and Backup Vocalist, Viola

Lea has been playing the viola for fourteen years, though her life's focus is currently on a degree in Engineering and Aerospace. She has been involved in the Yakima Youth Symphony Orchestra and Wenatchee Valley Symphony in Washington State, and has also given a few unorganized and disjointed supplementary private lessons so that others might learn to follow her bad example.


KEVIN COFOD

Acoustic Guitar, Backup Vocalist

Kevin Cofod has been playing the guitar since he was 8 years old. He has performed in a variety of bands and solo venues playing everything from jazz to bluegrass. He handles the guitar duties in “Fractal Folk” at present. He is a retired paramedic from Prince George's County Fire Department trying to decide what he wants to be when he grows up. Currently he lives with his wife of 23 years- Colleen, his 2 children Chapin & Crosby, and the family pet, a bulldog named Max.


GREG DICRISTOFARO

Flute, Percussion, Trombone, Backup Vocalist

Greg picked up the trombone when he was 10 and has been playing in bands since 12.  He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Pennsylvania State University where he focused on trombone and picked up skills in various instruments and jazz.  He now teaches band at a local middle school.
 

CATHERINE  DICRISTOFARO

Piano, Percussion, Trumpet, Backup Vocalist

Children’s librarian by day, "multi-instrumentalist" by night, Catherine is quite content bopping from one task to the next in Fractal Folk.  She’s still convinced that someone is going to realize how ridiculous it is for her to be in a band, but until then, she’s happily learning and playing as much music as she can.


NATHAN EARLEY

Percussion, Trombone, Backup Vocalist

Nathan Earley is a graduate of Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, earning Bachelor of Music and Master of the Arts in Teaching degrees.  He has studied trombone under Dayl Burnett, Bob Ford and Donna Parkes.  Currently, he teaches general music, band, and strings at an Elementary School in Lexington Park.


TINA FRATANUONO

Percussion, Backup & Lead Vocalist

Tina has a wide array of musical and theatre experience; she has been a performer in theatrical productions since she was four years old.  Tina was heavily involved with the Baltimore Actor’s Theatre as a youth and had already been a featured performer on a nationally televised telethon by the time she was fourteen.  After graduating from high school, she toured Europe with the “Sound of America” honor band and chorus before heading to New York City to attend the “American Musical Dramatic Academy” on Broadway.  Scaling back on her musical and theatre endeavors to raise a family, Tina still found time in the years that followed to perform with a Jazz Quartet in Central America.

Most recently, she has been active with The Newtowne Players at the Three Notch Theatre, in Lexington Park Maryland. Tina also sings the National Anthem for many events such as ball games, St. Mary’s County Commissioners, Leonardtown Commissioners, The National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Hospice, etc.  Tina is as an active singer and soloist in her church choir.  She is so excited to be a member of such a unique and original band. 


DICKIE HAMMETT

Drummer, Backup Vocalist

The drummer... ‘nough said.
 

VALERIE RAMIREZ

Electric Bass, Backup Vocalist

At fifteen, Valerie got her first guitar - a Yamaha acoustic with a tree-trunk neck. After numerous midnight showings of Led Zeppelin’s “The Song Remains the Same”, she fell in awe of Jimmy Page and was then determined to become a proficient lead guitarist.  After moving to Maryland in 2001, she joined the girl band Six Pack To Go as their lead guitarist. Since, she has played lead guitar for various bands in southern Maryland. A few years ago she was asked to cover bass guitar for a gig when the bass player fell ill. Shortly after, she purchased a Fender Jazz bass and began a new musical journey. Valerie lives in southern Maryland with her 19-year-old daughter and works as an elementary school counselor. She is hoping to complete a degree in industrial and organizational psychology by the close of this year.


Michael Snider 

Composer, Mandola, Mandolin, Backup Vocalist

Poet and mandolinist Michael Snider writes poetry in traditional forms and spent the first part of the century playing music he'd never heard with musicians he'd never met. He's very glad to have a home with “Fractal Folk.”