Last House Concert of the Season on June 12th

Welcoming for the first time musicians Eric Frey and Chas Justus and to welcome back Kristin Andreassen.

We have been trying to coax Eric and Chas’s band The Red Stick Ramblers, a smokin’ Cajun/Western-Swing quintet from Lafayette, La., into doing a house concert for years now, which is why we are so excited for Eric and Chas to finally share some of their original songs with us. You can read about Chas and Eric on The Red Stick Ramblers’ website: http://www.redstickramblers.com/
Kristin has been performing at our house ever since she first clogged on our floor at our very first concert six years ago. Since then she has graced our stage in groups such as old-time trio The Jolly Bankers, and female singer trio Sometymes Why. You can read more about Kristin and her numerous projects on her website:
http://www.yellowcarmusic.com/

For more information or a seat please rsvp:Sandilion49@gmail.com

Lisa Redfern and Randall Williams on May 15th

Lisa Redfern is an award winning singer-songwriter who recently moved back to Maine from the San Francisco Bay area. She was raised in Maine and first performed with her father, Bob, who taught her to play guitar at age 14. Bob was a folksinger who had his musical beginnings at the legendary Seeger family hootenannies in Washington, DC in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Throughout her high school and college years she honed her talents in a variety of settings such as musical theatre, forming her own folk trios as well as an Andrews Sisters tribute group.

With eight solo recordings to her credit so far (including, “Hushabye, Lullaby” which has sold more than 50,000 copies) she is a singer-songwriter who blends her roots in folk, bluegrass, country, gospel, blues, and swing to create something unmistakably her own. Lisa’s seven recordings have garnered positive critical review, extensive radio play and she has also made several TV appearances. She has added her clear, beautiful voice to dozens of other artists’ projects and song compilations and has performed with many notables including Pete Seeger, Dave Mallett and The Roches.

A versatile vocalist comfortable in many styles, Lisa is also an experienced wedding/church soloist and children’s concert performer. As a voice-over artist she can be heard speaking and singing on several toys for Fisher Price and Play Along Toys. For the past twenty summers Lisa has appeared at the much beloved Sweet Chariot Music Festival on Swan’s Island, Maine and she continues to perform and record. She now produces and performs in the local monthly songwriter series: Songwriters in the Round in Brunswick, Maine.

Two hours after informing his voice teacher that he was leaving the world of classical music, Randall Williams graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Mons, Belgium at the head of his class.
He felt that classical music lacked the inclusiveness of folk music, and that the inevitable division between performer and audience was unbearable. And so Randall returned to the world of traveling with his guitar, writing songs in train stations and sleeping on couches, then singing and playing on street corners, cafés, and pubs. For a time he lived aboard a 20' sailboat that he bought for $800, teaching himself how to sail by single-handing through the Baltic and North Seas with his guitar sleeping in the berth beside him at night. He wrote a book about the trip, which begins with the story of almost getting squashed by a tanker before dawn one morning in the North Sea. 

He moved to North Africa, then set off across the Sahara by hitching with locals - bouncing through a minefield on the way that made his mother have bad dreams. He loved the adventure, but he missed the music.



In 2005, Randall returned stateside to scrounge up a career as a performing songwriter, hoping it wasn't too late. So far, it hasn't been. As the "Partial Capo Guy," Randall has written two books for Hal Leonard, recorded a DVD for Kyser Musical Products, and given workshops at some of the biggest festivals in United States. As a performer, Randall has been a finalist in the Founder's Title and Mid-Atlantic Song Contests, A regional finalist at Kerrville, a showcase artist at Northeast and Midwest Folk Alliance, and at the International Folk Alliance in Memphis, and an Audience Favorite at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. His 2007 live release, "One Night in Louisiana" made a respectable dent in the folk DJ charts (One single, "Lebanon," was #8 in May,) and he's generally a nice guy to have around, capos or not.



Randall is as much at home in a Bangkok slum or a Senegalese village, at the Kennedy Center in D.C. or the Fine Arts Palace in Brussels sandwiched between a twitchy orchestra and a full house, or shoeless on the floor of your living room. Randall has sung in a dozen languages in over 35 countries.



Lynne Andrews: "When Randall left the confines of classical music largely behind, they lost a great talent, but the world gained a good friend - a friend who will tell its stories with grace, compassion, humility and humor."

Please contact Sandilion49@gmail.com and RSVP for directions and details about this May 15th concert.

Reid Jenkins' Senior Recital, April 25th

I'll be playing and singing music from many styles--Jazz, Classical & Americana Fiddle, featuring 5 original compositions (i.e. a four minute string quartet, three fiddle tunes, and a song), and a bunch of other stuff. I have a killing band and a killing string quartet, and my family members (all of whom are musicians) will be joining me on a few. It's also in the comfort of my home! Please RSVPASAP cause it's in my living room and it can fill up quickly. HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT!

Sunday, April 25th
3:00 PM

Thanks,
Reid
RSVP: Sandilion49@gmail.com for directions and details

The Evil City String Band to perform on Friday, March 19th

The Evil City String Band grew out of the vibrant old time music scene that is alive and well, in and around the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, more specifically, Ithaca and Trumansburg. Richie Stearns, singer-songwriter and banjo player, together with Steve Selin on fiddle, Paddy Burke on guitar, and our daughter, Stephanie Jenkins, on bass will perform on March 19th starting at 8:00. Please RSVP Sandilion49@gmail.com if you would like a seat and details will follow.

Rafe and Clelia Stefanini on Sat. February 27th

RAFE STEFANINI needs no introduction to old-time audiences and musicians. He was born in Italy, and has lived in the US since 1983. His love for Old Time music brought him here first as a visitor in the late 70s, then as a permanent resident. Since then he has established himself as one of the finest interpreters of fiddle music from the South. His dynamic and elegant fiddle and banjo playing was featured in some of the best bands to appear on the scene. Rafe is on the teaching staff at the Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp, where The Jenkins met him many summers ago.

CLELIA STEFANINI is following in her father’s footsteps with skills on the fiddle and guitar far exceeding her age of 17, with a style solidly grounded in the older tradition.

Together, the duo presents an entertaining show that includes rousing fiddle duets, old time ballads, songs and banjo tunes. Their new CD “ NEVER SEEN THE LIKE...” will be available at the house concert.

Directions and details will follow your reply to Sandilion49@gmail.com

Sara Caswell Trio Returns Feb. 6th as a Quartet

Sara Caswell, jazz violinist, will return February 6th, 2010 with Ike Sturm, bass, Jesse Lewis, guitar and Jared Schonig, drums. Since Sara last performed in our living room two years ago, she has continued to live here in NYC, and has been performing in many jazz venues around the city as well as teaching both at the Manhattan School of Music and the Mark O'Connor string camps.

On July 4th, she was a featured soloist with The New York Pops on NBC-TV as part of the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular, taped live on the flight deck of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. She performed “Sparks and Smoke: The Clermont,” the third movement from American River Suite, a new orchestral work by composer Stephen Flaherty commissioned in celebration of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s historic voyage. Sara's segment begins at 1:10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJeHkjZDDlA&feature=PlayList&p=4512E198CB822BC8&index=2

Scattered in between these events have been performances and/or recording sessions with some of her favorite musicians, including guitarist Gene Bertoncini, bassist Ike Sturm, saxophonist Jon Gordon, and (of course) her sister Rachel. Speaking of which… Rachel and she have been hard at work on their new CD project with the amazing pianist Fred Hersch. After many hours of mixing and mastering the tracks, the CD will be released soon. Stay tuned!