Betsy's Playlist: A Personal Connection

In my 19 years of playing fiddle with Revels, the most impactful thing is the connections that I have forged with other musicians.  I decided, for my Revels memories playlist, to include tracks by artists who meet 2 qualifications:

1.  I have played music with them, either for Revels or for other gigs.
2. They have performed as a guest artist in one of the Revels cities at least once.

All of these are people I would call friends.  Some are very close friends, and others are people that I would be delighted to see and hang out with anytime, anywhere.  All of them have nurtured a piece of my own creative musical journey, and I like to think of pieces of all of them showing up in my playing, like musical seeds that have germinated. I create this list with gratitude for each of these artists and friends, and hope that some of you will find joy in listening to some of the music they have brought into the world.

Part of this list is on Bandcamp, part on Spotify, and part on YouTube. If you don’t have access to Bandcamp or Spotify, you can probably find most of these people in some form on YouTube!

BANDCAMP PLAYLIST

• Seffarine: in 2022 I had the extreme pleasure of playing with Nat Hulskamp (guitar & oud) and Lamiae Naki (vocals) in our Spanish show.  Their music can be heard here, and they play live in Portland sometimes too: https://seffarine1.bandcamp.com/album/de-fez-a-jerez

• Bill Tomczak: Bill played clarinet with me in the 2013 Eastern European show. We continue to play together regularly in 2 bands.  You can hear him with the Latter Day Lizards, which also includes 2 players that I have played with and who have played for Cambridge Revels over the years, Kate Barnes and Dave Langford.  Give them a listen here! https://latterdaylizards.bandcamp.com/album/rainy-night-in-montague

• Eric Stern:  Eric also played accordion, sang and acted in our 2013 show. You can hear his delightful music here: https://ericsternmusic.bandcamp.com/album/stern-little-stories

• George Penk: We hired George for our 2005 Revels show, and he is one of my long-time regular musical friends. You can hear his fiddling here: https://susansonger.bandcamp.com/album/a-portland-selection-1

• Elizabeth Nicholson: Portland harpist extraordinaire, Elizabeth has played with me in the 2009 Irish Revels show, and in the 2018 Kid Show.  She’s also on Portland Revels’ Down Through the Winters recording. Listen to her here: https://elizabob.bandcamp.com/album/boldly-panic

• Nancy Conescu: Even though I didn’t get to play with her in our show, Nancy was featured in Portland Revels 2023 Irish show.  You can hear her beautiful guitar and singing here: https://gerryharrington.bandcamp.com/album/the-fiddle-the-voice

• Brendan Taaffe: Brendan has never been in a Portland show, but he has been featured in Revels North, and he also built a giant crankie for a Cambridge Revels production.  He’s a singer, composer, and plays fiddle, guitar, gourd banjo and mbira.  https://brendantaaffe.bandcamp.com/album/heap-of-horseshoes

• Becky Tracy & Keith Murphy:  Becky (fiddle)  and Keith (guitar, mandolin) have not played for Portland Revels, but they have played in other Revels companies, including Cambridge and Revels North.  Becky was one of my earliest contra dance fiddler inspirations.  https://beckytracyandkeithmurphy.bandcamp.com/album/golden

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

• Elias Alexander: Elias (border pipes, highland pipes, guitar, fiddle, vocals) was part of our 2018 Scottish Revels show.  His new album is called Fiddle Disco, or you can find him in the Bywater Band. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/06jwZBxbHjkQhUjBXNtrB8

• Kevin Burke: Kevin was part of Portland Revels 2009 Irish show. Working with him was a dream come true, and resulted in a long-lasting connection with him.  His most iconic album, in my opinion, is the classic If the Cap Fits. My favorite track on there is the final set on the album, an epic set of reels. (It used to be called Side B of that album!) https://open.spotify.com/playlist/06jwZBxbHjkQhUjBXNtrB8

• Dan Compton & Fran Slefer: Dan (guitar, lute) played in 2 shows with us, and is featured on Portland Revels’ Take Joy recording. He was in our 2015 Irish show, and in our 2017 Scandinavian show. His wife Fran (button accordion) played with the Tacoma Revels along with Dan, too.  Their CD Session at the Cottage is loaded with tons of terrific Irish session tunes. https://open.spotify.com/album/0dx3wlxpYuGLXVFzhQRYbo

• Kevin Carr: Kevin (fiddle, uilleann pipes, highland pipes, whistle, story-telling) has played and acted in 2 Portland Revels shows (2015 Irish & 2018 Scottish), as well as many other Revels shows in both Oakland and Tacoma. His band The Hillbillies from Mars was my wedding band, and Kevin himself piped us up and down the aisle! His bandmates in the Hillbillies have appeared in California Revels productions as well. https://open.spotify.com/track/45gJZEXv5nZwuOJ20UgyaQ

• Shulamit Kleinerman: Shula and I played together for the 2011 King and the Fool show.  Her fabulous vielle playing is also featured on Down Through the Winters. My favorite track with her is a duet with me called Offerat Ecclesia. https://open.spotify.com/track/2Y7in66QDOeKS8eVPQeXFF

• Larry Unger & Eden MacAdam-Somer: Larry and Eden have been musical friends of mine for many years now, and both of them have played in Cambridge & Houston Revels.  I love their duo album Notorious. Probably my favorite track from that album is called Freddie’s Tune. https://open.spotify.com/album/7AqzwXN0oqhOMTG1XdCWqa

• Ruthie Dornfeld: Ruthie (fiddle) was my very first fiddle influence, with her playing on Cambridge Revels’ The Wild Mountain Thyme CD.  This recording is how I even found Revels in the first place!  One of my favorite albums by her is Ways of the World, and the tune by that same name is a spectacular example of her fine fiddling.  She has appeared in multiple Revels cities, including Cambridge and Tacoma. https://open.spotify.com/album/2kY1PEvmgjufgsIWnF2H3X

YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

• Leela Grace & Lisa Ornstein: Leela (banjo, vocals) appeared in our 2012 Appalachian show.  Lisa was never in a Portland show, but she did appear in a Cambridge production.  This is a link to a concert that I did with them in Portland for the 2013 Old Time Gathering: https://youtu.be/JjiUwbmU1Fo