Saw this on MC, thought there might be some interest here:
New CD Releases
Butch Baldassari and David Schnaufer - Appalachian Mandolin and Dulcimer
Butch Baldassari and David Schnaufer team up on mandolin and dulcimer for a collection of traditional music.
From the liner notes: The Mandolin and Dulcimer met on the wagon roads and rivers of Nineteenth Century America. Their Italian and Germanic roots melted in the pot rich with Scots, Irish, African and English stock. They learned to speak the language of the natural new world of Cold Frosty Mornings, Muddy Roads, June Apples, Ground Hogs and Wayfaring Strangers. It’s a musical conversation here performed on vintage and contemporary instruments in settings to showcase the rare archaic harmonies of these joyful, lonesome and eternal themes.
I know David pretty well - and he’s one of the BEST dulcimer players there is (plus a really nice guy, too!). I’ve got all his CD’s so far (including his stint with the Cactus Brothers) so I’ll have to look at this, too.
rh - I ordered the CD, I’ll give you a “critique” when it comes in.
I’ve actually played “Black Mt. Rag” with David (at a festival in Spring Mill, IN). He also has it recorded (with Steve Seifert) on his “Dulcimore” CD - so I’ll be interested in hearing this version.
i’ve got some of Butch Baldassari’s stuff, including recordings and instructional materials, and everything i’ve got i really enjoy. a great mandolinist, and very versatile – he plays BG/OT and Classical/Italian styles with equal facility… anything he does is worth a listen in my book.
rh - got the CD in the mail and listened to it in the car on the way to and from a wedding we were playing at.
It’s a great CD! I didn’t realize how similar in sound the mando and dulcimer can be. If I wasn’t so familiar with David’s playing, I think it would be hard on several of the songs to pick out just which instrument is taking the lead. Butch and David blend together very well.
My favorite cut so far is “Cold, Frosty Morning”. I attempted that song a long time ago, but wasn’t happy with the bluegrass version of it. On this CD, Butch and David start out very slow and melodic with it, then instead of bluegrass, give it almost a celtic feel to the song - which is exactly what I was looking for when I was first trying to play it.
“Sandy River Bell” is also neat - they move an octave up halfway through the song and pick the tempo up at the same time.
And “Black Mt. Rag” is typical David - and he still does the licks I “borrowed” from him!
All in all a great CD. Of course, ALL of David’s stuff is good. But I like Butch’s playing, too - nice and clean, not too ornamented, but some good original additions.
well, watching David, you are watching one of the “best”…
He’s played everything from backup in a southern rock group, to composing and playing with the Nashville Sympthony. He was also the very first winner in mountain dulcimer in the nationals at Winfield, KS.
Plus he’s a really nice guy. Unfortunately, his health hasn’t been the greatest the past few years, so he doesn’t get to travel and perform a lot right now.
He put in a good word for me and got me one of my first “paying” festival gig about 7 years ago!
I have all of David’s CD’s - for “traditional” go with “TN Music Box”, for all around good stuff, go with “Dulcimer Player Deluxe”, and to hear the banjimer, go with “Uncle Dulcimer”.
He also plays on some of Cyndi Lauper’s CDs (yes, she IS a dulcimer player!)
Missy hasn’t mentioned it, so I will…She and her husband Tom have their own CD of dulcimer music that really shows off some of what can be done on a mountain dulcimer. I don’t know if they have full tracks online, but you can hear some of their stuff on their website at strothers.com
Some sad news from Butch Baldassari, posted on Mandolin Cafe:
Dear friend,
Some of you may or may have not heard that I have been having some health problems recently. It started in mid-March with my left hand losing about 20% of its facility. I have not cancelled any performances yet, but I really can’t do any recording or work that focuses heavily on myself as soloist. I am still playing concerts with Nashville Mandolin Ensemble. After an MRI and a brain biopsy on May 22, I was diagnosed with a low level 3 anaplastic astrocytoma deep in the right side of my brain. Because it is inoperable, I am following a regime of radiation and chemo beginning this Wednesday, June 6 for 6 weeks. I am going to be eating only a macrobiotic diet and following their lifestyle rules. I will also be receiving acupuncture, energy balancing treatments and massage therapy.
Please feel free to contact me via e-mail at soundartrecordings{at}comcast {dot} net …(phone # deleted). I hope to see or hear from you soon.
