A love of pure mountain-style harmonies is what brought Eugenia, Rob and Hannah together over a decade ago as the Chicago based American Roots band, Charming Axe. They sing songs they love--traditional, contemporary and original tunes--spanning bluegrass, pop, country, and folk, with lush romantic ballads and lively toe-tappers. Always with an emphasis on the Appalachian three part harmony stlye, and often accompanied by guitar, mandolin, fiddle and upright bass, Charming Axe is sure to delight. And they are darn nice folks.

 

Rob Newhouse (Guitarist/Vocalist) has racked up many years of performing, recording, writing and teaching.  A military brat, he grew up in various places; New Jersey, Texas, Alabama and the Azores to name a few.  His mom was a big band singer in the '40's and Dad was a jazz-lover; music was always an important part of everyday life.  A drummer originally, Rob switched to guitar and played in many bands, including Chicago roots-pop favorite the Elvis Brothers.  He left the bar band scene in 1998 and began teaching at Chicago's famous Old Town School of Folk Msic.  "I was surrounded by a community of stellar musicians; walking songbooks of American folk and roots."  His long time love of mountain style vocal harmony led him to Eugenia and Hannah and they hit it off instantly.  Loves family, food, kindness, tolerance, truth and oh yeah, music!

 

Since moving to Chicago in 1991 from the east coast, Eugenia Elliott has made her mark on the Chicago music scene in a wide variety of musical genres that include vocal jazz standards, bluegrass, old time country and popular contemporary music. Eugenia has also been successful in the realm of studio recording including demo and album work. You can hear her in local bands such as the Teflons, the Linda Marie Smith Band, the Melanie Budd band as well as on her own album of originals entitled 4000 Weeks. Eugenia has also worked as a clinical social worker and massage therapist. She feels there is a symbiotic bond between the two professions and music in that all are dedicated to relationships, communication and, in a sense, healing.

 

Hannah Hill has a deep and genuine love of vocal harmony. As the daughter of a church choir director, she inherited her mother's love of music.  Hannah, has sung in choirs since grade school and has a degree from Ohio University in Theater Arts. In addition to contributing her clear and gentle soprano voice to Charming Axe, Hannah is a librarian, horticulturist, and mom to two hilarious and kind boys!