Recent Recordings:
John Hoffmann & Mac Benford - 5SP07003
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It's About Time features John Hoffmann and Mac Benford, two powerful musicians in their first
recording together. On 22 tracks, John and Mac demonstrate their versatility, with fiddle-banjo duets,
banjo-guitar duets, twin banjo tunes, ballads and hot old-time fiddle tunes. Joining Mac and John on
three tracks is Randi Beckmann. This trio forms the hot dance band UpSouth. Another trio
configuration featured on this album is The Haywire Gang, which includes John, Mac and Paula
Bradley (guitar, banjo uke & vocals). The Haywire Gang is featured on nine tracks.
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2007 Releases:
Clifftop Notes Vol. 2 - Big Ears
Mark Simos & Friends - 5SP05006
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The trilogy is complete! -- Clifftop Notes Vol. 2 - Big Ears is the third of the CDs recorded in October of 2005 by Mark Simos of traditional and original old-time fiddle music.
Clifftop Notes Vol. 2 - Big Ears is the second volume of orginal old-time fiddle tunes composed and performed by Mark Simos. Mark is joined on this CD by an impressive collection of friends who capture the "campground" sound of jam sessions common at Appalachian String Band Music Festival (Clifftop, WV). All of the tunes on both volumes of Clifftop Notes were composed by Mark while attending the annual "Clifftop" festival. |
Cheick Hamala Diabate & Bob Carlin - 5SP06004
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Grammy Nominee "Best Traditional World Music Album" Two master music makers -- one from Mali in West Africa, the other from the United States -- join together in a cross-cultural program that creates a musical dialogue between two traditions. From Mali to America blends the musical traditions of West Africa and America. Since the American banjo grew from Western African roots, this exploration should come as no surprise. What is surprising is that it has taken this long for the ngoni and banjo to join together to explore and illuminate this obscure corner of American musical history. |
Old-Time Fiddle Lesson, Vol. 1
Matt Brown - 5SP07002
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Old-Time Fiddle Lesson, Vol. 1 is an instructional CD by renowned teacher and performer of old-time fiddle, Matt Brown. The fiddle tunes included on this CD are authentic arrangements based on Matt's intimate knowledge of many great fiddlers. Old-Time Fiddle Lesson Vol. 1 includes a dozen fiddle tunes played at both a slow and moderate tempo. The first six tunes are in standard violin tuning (GDAE) and offer those new to the style a portal into old-time music without having to re-tune. Those tunes are: Ducks on the Millpond, Soldier's Joy, Backstep Cindy, Black Eyed Susie, Sugar Hill, and Jack Wilson. Duck River and Arkansas Traveler are played out of D tuning (ADAE), and Fire on the Mountain, Grub Springs, Sandy Boys and Old Joe Clark are played in cross G tuning (GDGD). |
Martin & Johnson - 5SP07001
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Birdie is the debut recording for Martin & Johnson -- a trio of seasoned old-time musicians. This CD features thirteen songs and three instrumentals across a diverse repertoire including old-time breakdowns, gospel, blues, and comedy songs. Martin & Johnson is the combined talents of Wayne Martin (vocal, fiddle, harmonica, guitar), Margaret Martin (vocal, banjo, guitar), and Craig Johnson (vocal, fiddle, banjo, guitar). They have gathered forces for this delightful new CD that will be sure to have you laughing, dancing, and singing along. |
Alice Gerrard, Gail Gillespie & Sharon Sandomirsky - 5SP06003
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This recording reunites three top musicians who have quite a pedigree in old-time music. This CD is largely inspired by elder musicians including: Luther Davis, Roscoe Parrish, Bert Dickens, Martin Marshall, Enoch Rutherford, Charlie Acuff, Rat Felts and Tommy Jarrell. The Road to Agate Hill has two links to Lee Smith's novel "On Agate Hill (Algonquin Press). Alice Gerrard's song Agate Hill inspired the title of Lee Smith's novel. Smith wrote the words to Molly and the Traveling Man which Gerrard set to music. These two songs are the bookends to an intimate CD of instrumental and vocal music highlighting the traditions of southwestern Virginia. |