Jim Lestrange is a multi-instrumentalist and plays hammered dulcimer, guitar and bass.
At age 12, Jim began his association with Lawrence Older of Middle Grove, New York, the legendary "Adirondack Minstrel" and Newport Folk Festival artist active in the folk revival of the sixties. Jim learned many of Older's tunes and became familiar with various guitar techniques from his association with many of Saratoga's acoustic musicians.
In his twenties Jim built a hammered dulcimer. In his early music career, he played at numerous festivals and contradances throughout the northeast. He has performed on stage with virtuoso hammered dulcimer player, Paul VanArsdale, and legendary Adirondack fiddler, Vic Kibler and been a member of numerous bands including the contradance band, Fresh Squeezed String Band, the bluegrass band, Prograss, the traditional string band, Hilltop String Band, and the Celtic and maritime folk band, Skuttlebutt.