Music fans know Chris Webster and Nina Gerber as two of the most skilled and artful musical talents. Webster’s voice is uniquely compelling while Gerber’s guitar is beautiful and powerful. Together they’re magic. With originals, tasteful covers-soulful ballads, jazzy tunes and sweet folk, a great show.

Never ones to rush into anything, after 25-plus years of playing together Chris and Nina decided to record their first duo cd, Apple Blossom Lane, released this year. They are looking forward to a return visit to Orcas to share this new album with their fans.

Chris Webster’s career began nearly two decades ago as a teen-aged lead singer for one of California’s best know regional acts (“Mumbo Gumbo”) and boasts a successful resume highlighted by four solo releases (“Drive,” “Now Playing,” “Something in the Water,” “My Name is Christine”) and one amazing traditional Bluegrass/Americana recording of 10,000 Miles with The Websters (sister Cassie and renowned guitarist Scott Nygaard). With astonishing power and passion, her voice reaches magical heights, yet effortlessly turns on a dime to deliver gut wrenching torch songs and gentle ballads. Combining elegance and grace with a foot-shuffling manner, Webster has a purity and beauty about her that is seldom seen and never forgotten.

After carving a career out of what some might call the shadows, guitarist Nina Gerber is at last beginning to dare the light. Her first album as a leader, Not Before Noon, follows two decades which brought her to prominence without ever placing her name on the front of an album cover. Nina has performed and/or recorded with: Kate Wolf, Karla Bonoff, Peter Rowan, Eliza Gilkyson, Nanci Griffith, Greg Brown, Lucy Kaplansky, Mollie O’Brien, Rosalie Sorrels, Laurie Lewis, and many others. Since her accompaniment of Kate Wolf first earned her recognition, her acute skills as performer, producer and arranger have continued to deepen. Nina has an ability to completely free herself within an eclectic range of styles. Presented with folk, country, bluegrass, rock, or blues, she is able to fall into leads which have rare reverence for the true feeling of a song, always emphasizing taste over technical display.

Tickets for Chris and Nina are $15 for adults$10 for students, and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from noon – 4 pm. For more information about Orcas Center 2013 season events, please visit www.orcascenter.org.