A solo album featuring traditional Celtic and Appalachian music, Spanish folk song and flamenco, Argentine tangos, and original and contemporary vocals performed by Jim on a variety of instruments

14 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Traditional Folk, WORLD: World Traditions



Details:
âwaltz to the seaâ by Jim Murdoch reflects Jimâs wide-ranging musical interests and eclectic sourcesâfrom original songs to traditional and contemporary melodies from Argentina, Spain, Scotland, and the Appalachiansâand his extensive background as a performer. Traditional Celtic and Appalachian music, Spanish folk song and flamenco, Argentine tangos, and original and contemporary vocals are performed with a variety of instruments that include cedar flute, Appalachian dulcimer, accordion, guitar, and piano.

The CD opens with an original song for cedar flute, and continues with a traditional Celtic tune performed on Appalachian dulcimer. The CD also includes an Appalachian dulcimer medley of traditional tunes and songs by Stephen Foster. A cedar flute rendition of âWest Virginia Hills,â the state song, is a tribute to Jim's grandmother, who lived in West Virginia for 94 years until her recent passing. The dulcimer and cedar flute are instruments Jim plays in his work at the University of California San Francisco Mount Zion Cancer Center, where for the past thirteen years he has performed original and traditional music for patients who are recovering from surgery or receiving treatments, and for staff and visitors.

âSaga of The Tamaleââone of four original vocal tracksâadds a delicious twist to the holiday song, as it celebrates the tradition of making and gifting homemade tamales at Christmas time. Other original vocal tracks are âBeach Glass Ballade,â "Autumn Again" and the title track âWaltz To The Sea.â âFollow The Heron,â by Karine Polwart, a young Scottish singer-songwriter honors the return of spring to the Shetland Islands with beautiful imagery, âthe back of the winter is broken and light lingers long by the door.â

Two beautiful tangos by Carlos Gardel and a traditional flamenco fandango are arranged for solo piano, reflecting Jimâs years of training in classical piano and flamenco dance. A jota from northern Spain is played on accordion with castanet accompaniment. The accordion is an instrument on which Jim has performed for over twenty years, playing a repertoire of tunes from around the world at festivals and parties, and in his many appearances as Jimbo the Musical Clown.


Suggested Tracks

* Erikaâs Reel (track 2)

* Saga of The Tamale (track 4)

* Waltz to the Sea (track 7)

* Fandango (track 11)