A year ago I posted a piece here called "A Magical Moment" about the 'live' recording sessions for Wild Asparagus. The double CD album is finally here, and features wonderful music and many dance length cuts. I am posting the following from Becky Tracy on behalf of Wild Asparagus.
---------------------------------------------- We have just released our new CD, "Live at the Guiding Star Grange." The title gives you most of the story. One year ago, Wild Asparagus invited some of our favorite guest musicians from recent years - Harry Aceto (bass), Mark Hellenburg (drums), Mark Murphy (bass and backing vocals) and Keith Murphy (guitar, mandolin, piano, foot percussion) - for a blowout weekend of dances and to make our first live recording at our home dance in Greenfield, MA. It was certainly a weekend of blowout weather. We had a serious blizzard on Friday, and it didn't really stop snowing all weekend. Fortunately, a bunch of indomitable dancers showed up and we had a memorable party that weekend. The result is on our two-disk set: "Live at the Guiding Star Grange." Even though we didn't include the calls, this recording is as close as you can come to feeling like you are at a contra dance, the energy of the band is palpable as is the energy of the dancers. The music on the recording spans the band's many influences from searing traditional reels such as Dinny O'Brien's to sweet melodies like the waltz, The Crested Hen. There are many of David's originals including his Caribbean inspired Cold Lampin' and Hawaii inspired Pakalolo. Keith Murphy's tunes are also featured prominently from the perennial favorite, On the Danforth, to the rocking Northwest Reel. The feel of the recording is summed up with the lyrics to the song, Enjoy Yourself. The recording captures the unmistakable sound of the band... it's varied and eclectic instrumentation: David on bombard, whistles, flutes and sax; Ann on piano, guitar, ukulele, and vocals; George on concertina and bodhran; and Becky on fiddle. Here's what some of our first customers have said about the CD: - "That was the best $20 I've spent in a long time!" - "...What a dance that must have been. Wish I could have been there!" - "...This great dance music has so many dimensions it makes great performance music for listening as well." To order the CD online, you can visit our website http://www.wildasparagus.com. Or you can send $20 for each "Live at the Guiding Star Grange" 2CD set, plus $15 each for any of our older titles (Wherever you Go, From the Floor up, Call of the Wild, Tone Roads) and include $3 shipping for the whole order. Send your request to George Marshall Box 602 Belchertown, MA 01007, and make your check out to "George Marshall." Hope to see you in the new year at a dance somewhere. - Becky for Wild Asparagus
