|
Each of Mark Simos' rich, new tunes on
Clifftop Notes
is an entry point to that special space that all
musicians hope to enter when they play. The natural and totally comfortable take
on Mark's tunes leaves you aware of the connection to old traditions, but also
reaching to see what else is out there. It all makes perfect sense and you want
to stay there for the whole ride.
|
Buy the album by secure on-line purchase from CDBaby:
or order directly from 5-String Productions
Click below to hear some audio samples of the tracks on the album.
This is the second album in a trilogy recorded in October 2005 at Tim Brown’s 5-String Productions in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The first album, The Cliffhangers: On the Edge, consists of older traditional tunes. This recording and its companion, Clifftop Notes Vol. 2: Big Ears, presents some of the tunes I’ve composed over the years at or around the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop, West Virginia. (So, though I grew up in California, learned much of my old-time music in Philadelphia, and currently reside in Watertown, Massachusetts, these could be called "indigenous West Virginia tunes" if you were feeling particularly literal-minded!)
Many of these tunes first leaped from my fiddle spontaneously during sessions, a bit woozy on arrival but soon struggling to their feet. Others emerged after waking too early in the morning, ears still ringing from the music of the night before. Some are portraits dedicated to fellow musicians and other friends; others commemorate particular nights of music. I could draw a map of the Clifftop campground and point to the spots where most of these tunes were written.
Since these tunes were steeped in the heady and hearty brew of the campground, I wanted to record them with Clifftop friends: mostly unarranged, played just like good old tunes. I composed several of these tunes in sessions with the Cliffhangers, and it is a delight to feature that spirited assemblage on this project. Brendan got the knack of recognizing when a tune I’d launched into was actually being invented on the spot; many a sly look has passed between us on such occasions. We’re joined by various combinations of other friends and favorite musicians of mine: Maxine Gerber on banjo; Rich Hartness on fiddle and guitar; Deborah (Tolly) Tollefson, our "relief" bass player; and Edwin Wilson on guitar and banjo-uke (which has — almost! — the last word).
Some of these tunes have already been in circulation for some time and have begun to sprout variants
and versions. We reined them in, just barely, to record them, and they will no doubt soon wander off
again with minds of their own. Enjoy them, play them, and write some yourself!
~
Mark Simos
THE PLAYERS:
Mark Simos: fiddle
with fellow Cliffhangers:
Brendan Doyle: 5-string banjo
Karen Falkowski: string bass
Rusty Neithammer: guitar
Jody Platt: tenor guitar
and special guests:
Maxine Gerber: 5-string banjo (tracks 6, 9, 10)
Rich Hartness: fiddle (tracks 1, 6, 10); guitar (track 5)
Deborah (Tolly) Tollefson: string bass (tracks 1, 5, 6, 10, 11)
NOTE: Album track listing skipped a few of Tolly's bass tracks! Sorry
Edwin Wilson: guitar (tracks 6, 10); banjo-uke (tracks 5, 11)
CREDITS:
Produced by Bob Carlin.
Recorded and edited at 5-String Productions (West Chester, PA) by Tim Brown (www.5-string.com).
Mixed at Overdub Lane Recording (Durham, NC) by John Plymale and Bob Carlin.
Mastered at Northeastern Digital (Southboro, MA) by Toby Mountain.
Artwork by Sam Bartlett (www.sambartlett.com).
Graphic Design by Delpino Design.
For more recordings featuring the Cliffhangers, visit the Cliffhangers webpage at www.devachan.com/cliffhangers
For other albums by Mark Simos, visit www.devachan.com
For bookings and licensing: simos@devachan.com
Please contact us if you have photos, field recordings or other documentation about any of the sessions
where these and other Clifftop Notes tunes were created!
