The Chapel Hill based group, FOOTLOOSE, released "Trip to the Moon" in September, 2005. I recorded and mixed the cd at Kalimba Studio, here in Nashville. Produced by David DiGiuseppe and myself, it is the follow up cd to the 2004 release, "Everdance" and their first cd with a major drumming presence since the 1989 release, "Footloose". "Trip to the Moon" is quoted as "featuring dance tunes with powerful, drum-laden grooves." The drums and percussion were done alone in separate sessions, where I acted as both player and engineer.
Footloose plays primarily for New England style contra dances, which are like square dances but done in long lines down the hall instead of big squares. In the contra world, Footloose is known for tight arrangements, and unique orchestration. This record consist of fiddle/banjo (Rex McGee), accordion/cittern (David DiGiuseppe), clarinet/soprano sax (Dean Herington), piano/bass/accordion (Pete Campbell) and percussion (Jim Roberts).
As PERCUSSION goes, this cd was a chance to really stretch out by using a lot of colors to support the interesting textures that Footloose is typically known for. In addition to drum set, I also played, djembe, congas, bodhran, shekere, sleigh bells, dumbek, bongo, panderio, tamborim, surdo, triangle, bells, thunder drum (spring drum), rik, caxixi, castanets, and cowbell.
The band typically covers a gamut of musical styles, but in this cd some notable additions have been made to the repertoire. One unusual style was a Brazilian Choro, "A Bicada do Tico Tico", where I used a straight Brazilian treatment with panderio, tamborim, and surdo. We also did some unusual things. In "Carpathian Tune," I played on Rex's banjo with chop sticks (noted as banjosticks) while Rex changed the bar chords on the frets. This was to simulate a Eastern European dulcimer instrument known as a "cymbalon." Becky's Lesnto" uses middle eastern dumbek and rik with drum set, maracas, shaker and a Brazilian woven shaker known as a caxixi (ca-she-she). It is followed by Ćoćek, a tune of Macedonian influence. Thus, I was able to use some traditional as well as non-traditional treatments in Dean's "snake charmer" feature. "Le Vin" is a Tango waltz with Choro harmony (written by David) and I used castanets to compliment that tune. The title track set, "Trip to the Moon" is a swing set so I used a more traditional drum set treatment. One of the more ambitious sets was the Irish oriented, "Bundle and Go/Palamara/Paddy Fahy's Reel." Because this music is rhythmic as it melodic, it gave me a chance to stretch out and create a large array of rhythm instruments which included drum set with dumbek, congas, and shakers. Another Irish tune, "Maid Behind the Barrel", I did an unusual treatment by playing the Irish bodhran with brushes. We brought out the sub-frequencies of the drum while at the same time having a nice subtle high end attack with the brushes hitting the head. "Ragtime Annie" is a straight ahead bluegrass tune which I used a West African Djembe. This was reminiscent of the treatment of a CD that I did with the Horse Flies ("Two Traditions") using ethnic percussion with old-time tunes. In the dark, old Kentucky tune "Johnny Court the Widow" (which David and I first played together when we first met in the 1980's), I played sustained chords on a marimba. To add to the vibe, I used a spring drum (listed as a thunder drum) which emulates thunder and darkness. In this piece, I also used a Roland Handsonic, for some outer earthly sounds, along with rainstick and other HTS (High Tinkly Stuff). The original fiddle version was tuned to an alternative modal tuning which gave it its foreboding atmosphere, thus the treatment. Notably missing from this cd is tunes in the French-Canadian style, which the band is also noted for.
I first recorded with Footloose in 1989 and I did some touring with them with percussion and drum set. It was a very early use of percussion in the contra dance world and looked upon by some as sacrilege. Sometimes I would show up to a dance with a drum set and the sponsor of the dance would look at me in horror! Today, I'm happy to say that many groups use percussion and along with the Clayfoot Strutters and others, we helped bring about a change in attitude. Time has proven that dancers really like the addition of drums as it really kicks them into high gear. This CD is my answer to the critics who want to keep music from processing in new and creative ways in the name of tradition. After all these years, I'm really happy to have this as an example of "YES!, This can work!". That is what this cd means to me personally. Playing percussion and drums is an art form and should be used where and when the music calls for it."
I hope you purchase and enjoy this CD. It was a true labor of love for those involved and it was an honor to be involved with such wonderful people and musicians.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/footloosemusic
http://www.efolkmusic.org/ArtMusic/viewalbum.asp?ProductCode=52_7865&Artist=Footloose&AID=52#52_7865
