MP3 Andy May - Dance of Life (A Mandolin Celebration)

Mostly instrumental, mixing bluegrass fire with New England country dance rythm. Originals and freshly-arranged traditional tunes feature Andy on mandolin with an all-star acoustic band providing fiddle, bass, banjo, Dobro, and piano. A joyful sound!

11 MP3 Songs in this album (36:46) !
Related styles: Folk: Appalachian Folk, Country: Bluegrass, Instrumental

People who are interested in Bill Monroe Doc Watson Tommy Jackson should consider this download.


Details:
The celebration continues â remastered edition!

I recorded this project in the fall of 1986. It was first released on cassette on the Swift River Music label in 1987 and then on CD in 1999. The musicians who appear on these tracks were friends and band mates. My admiration and thanks go out to them still. Andy

Andy May: mandolin, guitar, vocals
Ken Kosek: fiddle
Roger Mason: bass
Rudi Weeks: bass
Jim Heffernan: banjo, resonator guitar
David Dick: banjo
Van Kaynor: fiddle
David Kaynor: fiddle
Cammy Kaynor: fiddle
Ed Kaynor: piano

Produced by Andy May
Artwork by Karen Cannon
Layout by Lauren LeCroy May

ABOUT THE ALBUM ARTWORKâ¦

Painter Karen Cannon devotes her great talent to works that celebrate music in everyday life. Although Andyâs daughters Rebekah and Kaitlyn are thirteen years apart in age, each loved to hear Dad play the mandolin when they were little. Karen used photographs of the girls as toddlers (and Andy, circa 1985!) to create the paintings on the front and back covers of the album, wonderfully capturing both the spirit of the project and the magnetism the mandolin holds for little ones.

Karen's artwork is based on photographs by Deborah Robson and Lauren May. Thanks to them and to Evan Reilly, who encouraged me to record this project in the first place.

Recorded and mixed in 1986 at Downtown Sounds Studio, Northampton, MA, Jim Weeks, engineer.
Tracks 1 & 11 remixed and project remastered at Mainframe Recording Studio, Nashville TN, Nathan Smith, engineer.

TRACKS

1. Dance of Life (A. May)
Back in the early 1980's, I wanted to write a piece that captured the soulful sound of Bill Monroe's mandolin style and mix it with the feel of the old time repertoire that I played for New England country dances. This tune is what I came up with.
Mandolin & Guitar: Andy May
Fiddle: Kenny Kosek
Banjo: Jim Heffernan
Bass: Roger Mason

2. Soldier's Joy (Traditional, Arr. Andy May)
Soldierâs Joy, (4) Bill Cheatham, (9) Saint Anne's Reel, and (10) Cripple Creek are tunes I've played since my teens back in the mid 1960's. Always loved themâ still do!
Mandolin & Guitar: Andy May
Fiddle: Kenny Kosek
Banjo: David Dick
Bass: Rudi Weeks

3. Swallowtail Jig (Traditional, Arr. Andy May)
I learned this piece in the mid 70's after I moved to western Massachusetts to finish college. I played it for a lot of old time country dances with some wonderful traditional bands all over New England.. Later, it became kind of a signature piece when my friend Tabby Crabb and I formed a country rock band in that region in the late 70's. This is my more traditional arrangement.
Mandolin & Guitar: Andy May
Fiddles: Van, David, & Cammy Kaynor
Piano: Ed Kaynor
Banjo: Jim Heffernan
Bass: Rudi Weeks

4. Bill Cheatham (Traditional, Arr. Andy May)
(See 2.)
Mandolin & Guitar: Andy May
Fiddle: Kenny Kosek
Banjo: David Dick
Bass: Roger Mason

5. Morpath Rant (Traditional, Arr. Andy May)
Another piece from the Northeast. I can still feel the floorboards gently bouncing as a room full of folks danced to this tune, in one of those old time halls that are scattered around in the old New England towns.
Mandolin & Guitar: Andy May
Fiddles: Van, David, & Cammy Kaynor
Piano: Ed Kaynor
Bass: Rudi Weeks

6. Devil's Dream (Traditional, Arr. Andy May)
This tune always reminds me of hearing Bill Keith and Jim Rooney's music when I was a kid.
Mandolin & Guitar: Andy May
Fiddle: Kenny Kosek
Banjo: David Dick
Bass: Roger Mason

7. Bluegrass Stomp (B. Monroe)
Bill Monroe knew how to mix swing and blues into the old time country style. I'm still tipping my hat to him.
Mandolin & Guitar: Andy May
Fiddle: Kenny Kosek
Banjo: David Dick
Resonator Guitar: Jim Heffernan
Bass: Rudi Weeks

8. Bay of Fundy Reel (A. May)
I spent some time up in Nova Scotia in the 80's. I sat by the Bay of Fundy and let the tide help me come up with this tune.
Mandolin & Guitar: Andy May
Fiddle: Kenny Kosek
Banjo: David Dick
Bass: Rudi Weeks

9. St. Anneâs Reel (Traditional, Arr. Andy May)
(See 2.)
Mandolin & Guitar: Andy May
Fiddle: Kenny Kosek
Banjo: Jim Heffernan
Bass: Rudi Weeks

10. Cripple Creek (Traditional, Arr. Andy May)
(See 2.)
Mandolin & Guitar: Andy May
Fiddle: Kenny Kosek
Banjo: David Dick
Resonator Guitar: Jim Heffernan
Bass: Roger Mason

11. Rachel (Traditional, Arr. Andy May)
When we were in our teens, Ken Kosek and I had the good fortune to get to know and play a lot of music in New York City with Harold Wilson, a fine fiddler from North Carolina. He was like an uncle to us. I still think of Harold when I play this one.
Mandolin & Guitar: Andy May
Fiddle: Kenny Kosek
Banjo: Jim Heffernan
Bass: Roger Mason

In fond memory of Loy Beaver, Tabby Crabb, Wynn Fay, Ed Kaynor, and Gene Ketelhohn

Swift River Music CD-115

Swift River Music
PO Box 231
Gladeville, TN 37071