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Wolf Creek Session Energetic blend of traditional Celtic and Appalachian music |
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Wolf Creek Session came together almost by accident. It was at an outdoor festival in 2002. Keith and Joan Pitzer, a long-time singer/songwriter folk duo, were tuning and warming up in preparation for their set. Nearby, Mike Broderick and Alice Fleischman, two members of another performing band, were doing the same thing. Being in such close proximity to one another they found themselves tuning into one another's music. Liking what they heard, they made plans to get together again to explore what might happen when "Appalachia meets Celtic". Mike Broderick (fiddle) has a Master's Degree in Piano Performance with several classes in Ethnomusicology and a special interest in World Music. In discovering the many musical links between cultures he became a frequent student of the Celtic fiddle taking classes at Augusta Celtic week in Elkins, WV and at the Swannanoa Gathering in Asheville, NC. With musical experiences ranging anywhere from Classical to Sacred to traditional Irish and Appalachian music he finds the violin to be the most challenging and most rewarding of instruments with Celtic fiddle having just the right amount of "grit and grace." Alice Fleischman (flutes and whistles) spent years mastering the symphonic C flute before switching to the traditional wooden, keyless Irish flute. She became entranced with the possibilities of the Irish flute and pennywhistle during her many summers spent at Irish week at Augusta and Swannanoa and has been heavily influenced by such notables as Laurence Nugent, Joannie Madden, John Skelton and Mike Rafferty. Falling Mountain artists in their own right, the Pitzers (Keith -guitar, mandolin, harmonica, vocals; Joan- bass, whistle, vocals) have shared a long-time relationship in both music and marriage. Since 1975 they have performed together predominantly as a singer/songwriter duo in the folk style while often including traditional Appalachian and Celtic music. Their latest release West Virginia Serenade is a warm, intimate look into their world tucked into the folds of the Mountain State's hills. The synergy of the foursome shines beautifully through slow airs and lively reels as well as the occasional contemporary folk gem. Their music is quickly landing them on prestigious American stages like the Kennedy Center in Washington and the Charleston Cultural Center, and internationally as well with a spring 2004 tour of France. From the mountains of West Virginia to the rest of the world, Wolf Creek Session highlights the lineage of Celtic to American traditional music with passion, reverence and skill. Streaming MP3 | ![]()
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| Discography: Wolf Creek Session |
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FM-1041 Between Two Shores, CD only (2004)
Wolf Creek Session's debut Between Two Shores delivers a refreshing blend of traditional Appalachian songs and music deeply rooted in Celtic influences. Cuts like "Shady Grove"/"Julia Delaney" and "Bonnie Ship The Diamond"/ "Fermoy Lasses" are fine examples of their crafty arrangements, rich vocal harmonies, and the melding together of the music from these cultures. Included in this eclectic mix of traditional tunes that spans Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Cape Breton and Appalachia are some stellar contemporary folk songs: johnsmith's "Appalachian Rain", the late Dave Carter's "I Go Like The Raven" and the beautiful slow air "Bygone Days" by Eileen Ivers and Brian Keane. From high-energy jigs and reels to their more modern musical descendants, Wolf Creek Session skillfully and tastefully honors the cultures and heritage that lie Between Two Shores. |
If you enjoy Wolf Creek Session's music, you might also enjoy Keith & Joan Pitzer, The Bog Wanderers, and The Unfortunate Rakes.