Favorites from FAC folks

Jo:

• Need a little romance? There’s nothing like Mary Lea & Friends to set the mood! Beginning with “Cascade of Tears,” and continuing with “Gypsy Wine” and the latest recording, “Between Two Worlds,” Mary has gathered together a delightful collection of musicians and their instruments playing couple dance music from both the old and the new worlds. There are waltzes, tangos, and zwiefache galore. Slip into something comfortable and let the music take you away...

- Mary Lea & Friends, “Cascade of Tears,” 15 romantic dances $15

- Mary Lea & Friends, “Gypsy Wine,” 15 romantic dances $15

- Mary Lea & Friends, “Between Two Worlds,” 15 romantic dances $15

Marcie:

• The Moving Violations, “Faster Than A Walk” - This 2001 CD is one fantastic listen! Featuring Van Kaynor and Ron Grosslein on fiddles, accompanied by Doug Feeney, Becky Ashenden and Chuck Corman, this group presents an amazing mix of traditional New England dance tunes coupled with melodies from Eastern Europe and Scandinavia - and it works! I challenge you to keep your feet from tapping when they launch into Le Brîul de la Fagaras or Nova Scotia Cocek!

• Mac Morin, “Mac Morin” - Mac’s 2003 release of piano music from Cape Breton is terrific! He is a wizard on the keyboard, either when accompanying fiddlers or on his own. Fans of Cape Breton music will delight in this recording, and for those of you who haven’t yet discovered the genre, this CD of jigs, reels and airs will be a great introduction to the music of Cape Breton as it is being played and enjoyed today.

Marianne:

• Dave Wiesler & Friends, “Cracks and Shadows” - Scottish dancers know Dave Wiesler, who has played for us at Pinewoods. But this recording is not just Scottish or English - as Dave says, it falls “somewhere in the cracks between traditional and modern and in the shadows between the pure folk genres of Scottish or English or American music.”

There are marvelous waltzes, tangos, jigs - all written by Dave and played by him and a cast of many of the “usual suspects” including Earl Gaddis and Andrea Hoag. The arrangements are inventive, surprising and delightful; for months Don and I played it as supper music, enjoying each note!

Listen for the Latin rhythms in “Ruth’s Waltz,” the wonderful strathspey “Full Fathom Five,” the great jig “Drunkard’s Walk.” This music never fails to start me dancing around the kitchen! Dave’s great humor and talent shine through more than an hour of wonderful listening.