Newsletter submissions: Liz Pagan Email: newsletter@folkproject.org 32 Williamson Ave., Bloomfield NJ 07003; deadline is the 15th Membership, corrections/changes: Rick Thomas Email: membership@folkproject.org 12 Upper Warren Way, Warren, NJ 07059 (908) 647-7517 Folk Project Officers: President: Scooter Ferguson Vice President: Elizabeth Lachowicz Secretary: Chris Riemer Treasurer: Eddie Roffman Trustees: Trustees thru 2010: Evelyn Maurer, Jim King, Alan Kugel Trustees thru 2011: Lois DeRitter, Jim Gartner, Brad Pryor Trustees thru 2012: Scooter Ferguson, Ruth Wolfish, Alison Mazie Box 41 Mendham, NJ 07945 www.folkproject.org NEWSLETTER February 2010 The Valentine s Extravaganza: Partager L amour avec Haiti The Project s Valentine s Extravaganza, Fri., Feb. 2 at 8pm at the Minstrel, is one of our great annual events. This year, we will share the love with the earthquake victims by donating the proceeds of the show to relief efforts in Haiti. Come with open hearts and open wallets! See surprise new members showcasing their appreciable talents. Share the triumphant return of the bigger, stronger and newly-over-rehearsed Minstrels of Love Chorus under the direction of John Lamb. Enjoy 24 Folk Project singers, pouring their hearts outs. Delight in the passion and joy of newly-engaged MC couple, Christine DeLeon and Mike DelVecchio. Some songs will feature our ten-piece Loving Hearts Club Boogie Band or our Valentines Love Trio led by Frank Sole. The audience stars this night also, when their loving, hysterical, sometimes frankly ludicrous Messages from the Heart are read. (Ruth Wolfish, our be-gowned and beguiling Message Princess, will collect creative love missives as she does every year.) To top it all off, the desserts are to die for. Come one, come all and share the love with Haiti. Lots o Special Events in the Works: The Special Concerts Committee has three yes, three events coming up. Thurs., Feb. 4: Michael Manring, Bassplayer An evening with Michael Manring, Bassplayer: The winner of two gold records, Grammy and Bammie award nominations, and, in the words of Jaco Pastorius One Bad Mother. Details page 6 Fri., March 5: Jay Ungar and Molly Mason Jay Ungar and Molly Mason were vaulted into the national spotlight with the broadcast of Ken Burns Civil War series. Jay s hauntingly beautiful Ashokan Farewell became the signature piece of that series. This will be a Special Event at The Minstrel, with a special admission price of $15.00. No free volunteer admissions at Special Events. Details page 7. Sun., March 7: Beppe Gambetta Workshop/Concert Beppe Gambetta will be presenting a three-hour guitar workshop in the afternoon, and a full concert in the evening. Details page 7. February Evening o Music Sat., 2/13, 8pm The Schaffers It will be a Valentine's Day Eve/Post Valentine's Day Show Lovefest at the home of the everlovin' Mark and Robin Schaffer, 196 Mount Pleasant Ave., Rockaway, (973) 989-4429. As usual, bring food and/or drink to share, and bring your voice and instruments. Just for fun, from 10 to 11pm we will be having an hour of "Love Songs by Candlelight." Anyone who is so moved can bring a candle of any description to add to the ambiance. Directions: Route 80 to exit 35A (Dover and Shopping Mall). Go 1/2 mile to the Exxon and make a left onto Mt. Pleasant Ave. Ignore street signs for one mile. At one mile, the road starts downhill and there is a metal guardrail on the right. The mailbox has 196 and three reflectors. The driveway is a hairpin turn on the right 10 feet past the 25MPH sign. Yes, there IS parking on the street even though it s scary.
February 2010 The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series presented by Thurs., Feb. 4: a Folk Project Special Concert with Michael Manring Michael Manring is arguably the world s best solo electric bassist. He takes the instrument out of its support role, and transforms it into a stunning melody instrument. Come see this undisputed master of the fretless bass open up new vistas of music you never dreamed possible at this special Thursday night concert at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship. Tickets $20.00 at the door, $15.00 in advance, available at the Minstrel or at www.folkproject.org/fp_special.html Fri., Feb. 5: Archie Fisher and David Jones Master guitarist, singer and songwriter Archie Fisher is Scotland s foremost troubadour. Revered in his own country, Archie, along with his sisters Ray and Cilla took the US by storm in the 70's. Heavily influenced by his Gaelic-speaking mother, his writing sounds centuries old. He was a pioneer of the DADGAD alternative guitar tuning, and his playing is simply gorgeous. This is his first tour of the US in over a decade, and the Minstrel is fortunate indeed to be able to present him. Our opener, David Jones is English, making this an all-british Isles evening. He sings a repertoire of sea songs, Music Hall fare and traditional English song in his distinctive bass-baritone voice. His experience as a stage actor brings these songs to life, and encourages the entire audience into song. Fri., Feb. 12: Valentines Day Extravaganza This all-folk Project show has become an annual tradition at the Minstrel. It features our members solo and in combination extolling in song the joys and woes of love in all its grandeur, foolishness, heartbreak, and comedy. Backing up our singers, will be a house band comprised of the Folk Project s best players. In what has become the highlight of the show, the Minstrels of Love, a 10-member acapella group under the direction of John Lamb, will present exquisite choral arrangements of songs of love. Fri., Feb. 19: John Forster and Anna Dagmar John Forster obviously fell asleep one too many times as a child to the sound of his Tom Lehrer albums. This is evidenced by his twisted sense of humor, his delightfully skewed view of the human condition, and his prodigious skills as a pianist. His songs have a knack for taking the plausible but improbable, and leading that to its implausible but inevitable conclusion by way of unlikely rhymes, horrible puns, and ironic satire. John is a very funny man. At fourteen, opener Anna Dagmar discovered the poetry of Joni Mitchell and the breathtaking improvisations of Keith Jarrett and Bill Evans, who transformed the piano into a choir of tiny voices. By the end of her training at The Eastman School of Music, she had found a way to weave her passions and influences together into surprising songs of her own. Her songs are literary, thoughtful, and thoroughly beautiful. Fri., Feb. 26: Martin Swinger and Circle Round the Sun Martin Swinger connects with his audience, particularly in live concert. He is an astounding musician with a comfortable presence, a powerful voice and creative guitar skills. His vocal skills especially shine in innovative scat and other improvisational singing. A Folk Project member, Martin was featured at the 2009 Folk Project Fall Festival. This will be an all-fp show, as our opener, Circle Round the Sun, is comprised of members Jay Wilinsky and Marie Trontell. Both are great fans of the work of today s folk singer-songwriters. They pick the best works of the best writers and present them in close harmony. UPCOMING: 3/5: Special Concert featuring fiddle legend Jay Ungar with Molly Mason. Tickets $15.00; 3/12: Open Stage; 3/19: Red Molly female harmony trio; 3/26: Brilliant songwriter Craig Bickhardt; 4/9: Open Stage; 4/16: Jaerv, Scandinavian folk; 4/23: High energy songwriter duo Buskin & Batteau; 4/30: Folk Project songbird Christine DeLeon The Minstrel is an acoustic music concert series run by the Folk Project, a non-profit folk music and arts organization. We use the facilities of the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ. We hold shows almost every Friday, year round, and the second Friday of the month is usually an open stage/audition night. The music we present is folk music in its broadest sense. That is, in addition to traditional American and ethnic folk music (in its purist definition), we welcome music of contemporary, primarily acoustic songwriters, and other types of music more folkie in attitude than in content. Shows start at 8pm; dress is casual. We serve coffee, teas, and baked goods. There is no alcohol or tobacco on the premises. Admission is inexpensive; on our regular Friday concerts we ask $7.00 on your way in, and, if you feel the show was worth it, an additional amount at your discretion on the way out, which goes to supplement what we pay the feature performer. Children under 12 are free. For travel information, or information on shows call 973 335 9489 or visit our website at www.folkproject.org. To volunteer call Sandie at (908) 501-3842 volunteers@folkproject.org Members Gigs & Friends Mike Agranoff: Sat., 2/6: 8pm, Riverfolk Concerts, Narrowsburg, NY. (845) 252-3043 or www.jillskitchen.com/riverfolk; Wed. Sun., 2/17 21: Folk Alliance Conference, Memphis, TN. Showcase in the Knoxville Room. www.folk.org; Sat., 2/27: People s Voice Cafe (see Venues). Russ Kelner: Wed., 2/3: with Cream Cheese Ensemble, Somerset Jewish Federation; Sun., 2/21: NJ Intergenerational Orchestra, Winter Concert, at Madison Junior School Odarka Stockert: w/ Slight Imperfection Tues., 2/16: opening for Carriage House Poetry Series, 8pm Kuran Arts Center, 75 North Martine Ave., Fanwood; Thurs., 2/25: 7pm, Cafe Verde, 60 South Main St., Phillipsburg.www.myspace.com/slightimperfection; every Sunday: 6pm, Cafe Monet.Reservations recommended (973)376-8555 (Please confirm music for this evening when calling). Mara Levine: Wed., 2/10: 12:30pm, singing harmony with Arlon Bennett,Wayne Public Library Lunchbox Learning Series, 461 Valley Rd., Wayne, (973) 694-4272 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Someone left a guitar stand at the Heilbruns house after the January Evening o Music. Call (973) 263-5340 to claim. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Classes in Harp and Harp Ensemble will be taught in a series of Saturday mornings at Maplewood Arts Center by Odarka Polanskyj Stockert. Call Odarka, (973) 763-6303 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Washington, DC a great place to visit and hear some folk music: The Folklore Society of Greater Washington concert on Sat., March 13 features Eleanor Ellis and Andy Cohen. From Linda Goodman: Eleanor is a henna-haired blues elder from Mississippi, and her rendition of "In My Girlish Days" sends chills down my spine each time I hear her perform it. Andy spent considerable time with the Rev. Gary Davis. Andy sings, performs ragtime and blues on the piano and on wonderful old guitars. He is one of the two world's experts on the dolceola. Together the performers are pure magic. On Sunday, Andy will teach a Piedmont Blues guitar workshop. There will also be opporunity to jam with the performers over the weekend.details: www.fsgw.org....horses Sing None of It! Is a folksy non-commercial public access TV series featuring a surprising variety of guest performers, hosted by Ralph Litwin. All types of (mainly acoustic) music, storytellers, dancers, others. Schedule available at the Folk Project web page. Seen on: Cablevision Morris area, Sundays 7:300pm ch. 21; Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN), New York City, Thursdays 2:30pm on Time/Warner Cable ch. 34 and on RCN Cable ch. 82; also broadcast via streaming video on the web at www.mnn.org (popup players 34/82 http mms); Comcast (formerly Patriot Media/Somerset, NJ) Fridays 3:30pm, ch. 280; Comcast Cablevision of Northwest NJ, Mondays 3:30pm ch. 21; Service Electric Cable TV Allentown, PA, Thursdays 9:30pm ch. 50; Staten Island Community TV (SICTV) Saturdays 6pm, ch. 34; Fargo Access (www.cityoffargo.com/cable) on Cable One Fridays 6:30pm & Mondays 3:00pm Ch. 12 in Fargo, ND; LVTV-3, Adelphia Cable, La Verne, CA at Fridays 6:00pm 3
All Venues That s Fit To Print Albert Hall/Sounds of the NJ Pines: Country/bluegrass/folk every Saturday. 125 Wells Mills Rd. (Route 532), Waretown. (609) 971-1593 or www.alberthall.org; Acoustic Café: Our Lady of Mercy Church, 2 Fremont Ave, Park Ridge, NJ, 8pm, (201) 573-0718, www.cafeacoustic.org; Sat., 2/20: McMule, Alice Leon Bluegrass & Old Time Music Assoc. (BOTMA): Every 3rd Sun. from Sept. thru May, Embury United Methodist Church Hall, 49 Church St., Little Silver, NJ. 1-5pm. $4 for BOTMA members / $5 for non-members. Info : www.newjerseybluegrass.org Borderline Folk Music House Club: New City Ambulance Corps Bldg, 200 Congers Rd., New City, NY. 2pm, Info: (845) 354-4586, www.borderlinefolkmusic.4themax.com; Sun., 2/7: Calico Jack Brennen Coffee House: Justice William Brennan Court House, 583 Newark Ave., Jersey City. Show starts 7pm, evening concludes w/ open mike. (800) 542-7894, www.brennancoffeehouse.com; Fri., 2/19: Chrissy Roberts, Tris McCall, Efrain Calderon Café Z: Third Saturdays: open mic, 7pm concert. $5 inc. refreshments, Zion Lutheran Church, corner of Elm and Esterbrook Aves., Rahway. (732) 388-3865; Sat., 2/20: Laible Blu City Grind: Open Mic Night, every other Friday at 8 pm, 11 North Avenue East, Cranford. www.citygrindonline.com or JosephStriderCGCH@hotmail.com Chantey Sing: Seamen s Church Institute, 241 Water St., 2nd fl., NYC 8pm. www.woodenshipsmusic.com/nychanty/nychanty.html Coffee With Conscience: 1st United Methodist Church of Westfield, 1 E. Broad St. 8pm info 908-412-9105, Concerts4Causes@aol.com; www.coffeewithconscienceorg; Sat., 2/27: David Roth, Greg Greenway, Reggie Harris Community Theater at Mayo Center for Performing Arts: 100 South St., Morristown, NJ, for tickets/info call 973-539-8008, www.mayoarts.org, shows at 8pm Crossroads Coffeehouse: 8pm, Crossroads Community Church, 104 Bartley Rd., Flanders. (973) 786-7940 or (908) 879-7739; Delaware River Folksong Fellowship: Song circle the 2nd Sunday at the Friends Meeting House in Mount Holly, NJ, www.myspace.com/delawareriverfolksongfellowship Dublin House: Irish Session, 1st & 3rd Sundays, 6-9pm, Dublin House, Monmouth St., Red Bank Dull Music: 7pm, Rutherford Congregational Church, Union and Rutherford Avenues, Rutherford. www.dullmusic.com; Folk Friday in Maplewood: Informal 2nd Fri. sing-along with Lucky, Dusty, Rusty & Tio Pete. Starts 7:30pm, hosted by Lisa Novemsky. Ethical Culture Center, 516 Prospect St., Maplewood. Call (973) 763-1905 to confirm date, for directions; Godfrey Daniels: 7 E. 4th St., Bethlehem, PA (610) 867-2390, www.godfreydaniels.org Good Coffeehouse: 53 Prospect Park W. at 2nd St., Park Slope, Brooklyn, doors open at 7:30, music at 8pm, (718) 768-2972 or www.bsec.org; 2/5: David Laibman and Norman Savitt; 2/19: Harmonic Insurgence, Dayna Kurtz and Mamie Minch The Hillside Cafe Coffee House: 45 Hillside Crescent, Nutley. Doors open at 7:30, show at 8pm. (973) 616-0106 or jrlds@comcast.net, www.hillsidecafe.com; Sat., 2/20: Christine Santelli Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club: Fair Lawn Community Center, 10-10 20th St., Fair Lawn 8pm. (201) 384-1325. www.hurdygurdyfolk.org; Sat., 2/6: Amy Speace, Chuck E. Costa MoFiddles/Menzel Violins: 4260 Town Center Way, Livingston, NJ, Bluegrass & Old Time Music Jam 1st Thursdays 7pm, RSVP to (973) 994-1083 or mo@mofiddles.com; 4 Mountainside Library Folk Music Cafe: www.mountainsidelibrary.org or (908) 233-0115 Music at the Mission: West Milford Presbyterian Church, 1452 Union Valley Rd., West Milford, (973) 728-3081, www.musicatthemission.org; Sat., 2/20: Jonathan Edwards, Loretta Hagen Music on Main Street: United Methodist Church, 69 Main St., Woodbridge. All shows $20. 7:30pm. www.woodbridgeartsnj.com Outpost In The Burbs: at the Unitarian Church of Montclair, 67 Church St., Montclair (973) 744-6560. Doors open 7:30pm, concert at 8pm. www.outpostintheburbs.org; Fri., 2/12: Robin Spielberg, David Goldman; Fri., 2/26: Vance Gilbert & Dala People s Voice Cafe: For info/locations, www.peoplesvoicecafe.org or (212) 787-3903; Sat., 2/6: Buskin and Batteau; 2/13: Rod MacDonald; 2/20: Magpie, Laura Warfield, Red Flag; 2/27: Mike Agranoff, Peter Pasco Pinewoods Folk Music Club: 444 W. 54th St., #7, New York, NY 10019, (718) 651-1115, www.folkmusicny.org; Fri., 2/26: Michelle Choiniere, 7:30pm; West Side Arts Coalition, 96 St & B way Center Mall. (718) 672-639. Folk Open Sing; First Wed. month; 7pm; Ethical Culture Soc., 53 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn (212) 636-6341 (718) 788-7563 The Place: House Concerts, 3pm potluck, 4pm concert. RSVP to jamask8@comcast.net or (973) 992-7491 for info; Sun., 2/7: Abi Tapia Princeton Folk Music Society: Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton, 8pm, (609) 799-0944 $15/Members $10/$3 kids under 12. www.princetonfolk.org; Fri., 2/19: The Folk Brothers: David Massengill, Jack Hardy Sacred Harp Singings: Much info at http://www.fasola.org/; 2nd Sun.: 2pm, St. Paul s Church, 199 Carroll St, Brooklyn. (718) 293-2848; 3rd Sun.: check www.manhattansing.org for venue (except July & August): 2pm, Montclair Friends Mtg, Park & Gordonhurst. (973) 509-2165; 1st Sat. (except July/August): 3pm, Living Room, 154 Ludlow St., NYC Salem Roadhouse Café: Townley Presbyterian Cruch, 829 Salem Rd., Union. (908) 686-1028, www.townleychurch.org; Sat., 2/13: Brian Fitzpatrick and the Band of Brothers Sanctuary Concerts: The Presbyterian Church, 240 Southern Boulevard, Chatham. Most concerts 8pm, www.sanctuaryconcerts.org; Second Saturdays Coffee House/Open Mic: Summit Unitarian Church, 4 Waldron Ave. Sign up at 7:30pm, shows at 8pm. If you are a singer/songwriter & would like to host one, call (908) 412-9105, Concerts4Causes@aol.com; Skylands Native American Flute Circle meets at a home in Panther Valley. Info: Allan Johnson 908-850-5772 or ajflycasting@optonline.net Stony Brook Friends of Old Time Music Jam: Mannion s Pub & Restaurant, 140 West Main Street, Somerville. Starting around 7:30pm. (609) 924-5353 or visit www.diamondcut.com/oldtime/; 1st and 3rd Tuesdays each month The Uptown Coffeehouse: Soc. for Ethical Culture, 4450 Fieldston Rd., Bronx, NY, 5pm, $15/$3 kids <12. www.uptowncoffeehouse.org, (718) 885-2498; Sun., 2/7: Martyn Joseph Walkabout Clearwater Coffeehouse: United Methodist Church, 250 Bryant Ave., White Plains, (914) 949-2146, www.walkaboutclearwater.org; Sat., 2/13: Garnet Rogers Watchung Arts Center: 18 Sterling Road (on the Watchung Circle) Watchung, NJ, 8pm, (908) 412-9105; Sat., 2/6: Idgy Vaughn New Open Mike at Arts off Main: every third Thursday, The Lab, 128 Willow Grove St., Hackettstown. Info: thelab_openmic@yahoo.com; www.artsoffmain.com; 908.684.4728. Thurs., 2/18 Lotsa Jams listed at http://home.comcast.net/~epollak/jam.htm 5
Coming in March: Two Very Special Events presents Music is my earliest memory. All but one of my grandparents were musicians, all but one of my siblings are too. Nearly everyone discouraged me from pursuing solo bass, but I never let go of the passion I felt for it. Rarely am I ever bored. I feel lucky to have realized so many of my dreams. Nowadays I never seem to have enough time to practice. Growing and learning are my continual goals. MICHAEL MANRING BASSPLAYER A master of the fretless bass without rival Guitar Club Magazine Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 s 8:00pm Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, NJ!DMISSION IN ADVANCE AT THE DOOR s 4ICKETS AND INFORMATION 4HE -INSTREL EVERY &RIDAY NIGHT s CONCERTS FOLKPROJECT ORG s Manring is creating musical history L.A. Jazz Scene Michael Manring is a bass player and composer known for his innovative approach to the instrument and his adventurous solo concerts. A former house bassist for Windham Hill Records, he has played on more than 200 recordings, and put out five solo albums: Unusual Weather, Toward the Center of Night, Drastic Measures, Thonk, and the newly released Soliloquy. His two newest projects are soon to be released a duet CD with French guitar player Cyril Achard, and a DVD of a live session at Le Triton Club in Paris, France. He has garnered two gold records, Grammy and Bammie nominations, a Berklee School of Music Distinguished Alumni Award, two Just Plain Folks Awards, and numerous Bass Player Magazine s Reader s Poll awards, including 1994 Bassist of the Year. Manring was also the subject of a PBS TV documentary, The Artist s Profile: Michael Manring. Michael Manring is one bad mother****** Jaco Pastorius Funding for this event has been made possible in part by funds from the Arts Council of the Morris Area through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State a Partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. 6 Tickets and Information: The Minstrel every Friday night; concerts@folkproject.org; (908) 591-6491 7
FP Calendar: February 2010 1/Mon. 2/Tues. 3/Wed. 4/Wed. 4/Thurs. 5/Fri. 6/Sat. 7/Sun. EVERY Monday: Maplewood International Dancers, 7:30pm. New location: Recreation House, 124 Dunnellen Road. (973) 376-7568 EVERY 1st & 3rd Tuesday: Stony Brook Friends of Old Time Music Jam, 7:30pm, Mannion s Somerville. www.diamondcut.com/oldtime/. EVERY Tuesday: Northwest NJ Acoustic Jam, 7pm, Westside United Methodist Church, Hopatcong. (973) 770-0179 EVERY Saturday: CD*NY: Contra dances, 8pm. NYC. www.cdny.org FP Board meeting: 8pm, Rick and Cathy Thomas, 12 Upper Warren Way, Warren Russ Kelner w/ Cream Cheese Ensemble, Somerset Jewish Federation Dave Sherman and the Funraisers (Pat Hickey and Andy Koenig), 7pm, The Cambridge Inn, Spotswood. A set of the music of the Grateful Dead. EVERY Wednesday, Straight Morning Drive, featuring Straight Drive 15 minutes after the 7:30am station break. 6 9am, WDVR-FM and www.wdvrfm.org EVERY Wed.: Morristown Int l Dancers, 7:30pm, Mountain Lakes. (973) 539-7020 EVERY Wednesday: Princeton Country Dancers, 8pm, Suzanne Patterson center, Princeton. (609) 799-2073, http://www.princetoncountrydancers.org/ EVERY Wednesday: Down Jersey with Jim Albertson, 7:30pm, WSNJ am1240, am1440 and www.wsnjam.com; http://members.aol.com/downjerseyjim/ Folk Project Special Concert: Michael Manring Alternate Thursdays: Scandinavian couple dancing, 7:30 pm, Bound Brook. See skandinoje.org for dates/info. Minstrel: Archie Fisher, David Jones Swingin Tern: Jeff Walker, Walker Family Band People s Voice Cafe: Buskin and Batteau, 8pm, NYC. (212) 787-3903 Hurdy Gurdy: Amy Speace, Chuck E. Costa, 8pm, Paramus. (201) 836-5500 Watchung Arts Center: Idgy Vaughn, 8pm, Watchung. (908) 412-9105 Borderline: Calico Jack, 8pm, New City, NY. Reservations: solz1@optonline.net or (845) 354-4586 South Street Seaport Sea Music Concert: Robbie Wedeen and friends from A Joyful Noise and Triple Play, 3pm, NYC The Place House Concerts: Abi Tapia, 3pm, Livingston. Rsvp jamask8@comcast.net or (973) 992-7491 EVERY Sun.: Music You Can t Hear On The Radio, 7pm, WPRB 103.3FM; www.wprb.com EVERY Sun.: 6pm, Odarka Stockert, Celtic harp, Cafe Monet, Millburn, (973) 376-8555 EVERY first & third Sunday: Open Irish session, 6pm, Dublin House, Red Bank. Uptown Coffeehouse: Martyn Joseph, 5pm, the Bronx. www.uptowncoffeehouse.org 10/Wed. EVERY 1st Wednesday: Folk Open Sing; 7pm, Ethical Culture Society, 53 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn. (212) 636-6341 or (718) 788-7563 Arlon Bennett with Mara Levine, 12:30pm, Wayne PUblic Library, Wayne. (973) 694-4272 11/Thurs. NJ Songwriters Circle, 7pm, Dave Kleiner s. (973) 429-0288, daveythek@aol.com 12/Fri. Minstrel: Valentine s Day Extravaganza Sharing the Love with Haiti Benefit 8 Outpost in the Burbs: Robin Spielberg, David Goldman, 8pm, Montclair. www.outpostintheburbs.org 13/Sat. Evening o Music: Schaffers, 196 Mount Pleasant Ave., Rockaway. (973) 989-4429 People s Voice Cafe: Rod MacDonald, 8pm, NYC. (212) 787-3903 Salem Roadhouse Café: Brian Fitzpatrick and the Band of Brothers, Union. (908) 686-1028 14/Sun. Sacred Harp Singing, 2pm, Brooklyn. (718) 793-2848 North Jersey English Country Dancers No Dance 15/Mon. Newsletter deadline. Send stuff to newsletter@folkproject.org 16/Tues. Odarka Stockert/Slight Imperfection, 8pm, opening for Carriage House Poetry Series, Fanwood. 18/Thurs. Arts Off Main Open Mike, 8pm, The Lab, Hackettstown. (908) 684-4278 19/Fri. Minstrel: John Forster, Anna Dagmar Princeton FMS: The Folk Brothers: David Massengill, Jack Hardy, 8:15pm, Princeton. (609) 799-0944 Brennan Coffeehouse: Chrissy Roberts, Tris McCall, Efrain Calderon, 8pm, Jersey City. www.brennancoffeehouse.com 20/Sat. Swingin Tern: Jeff Peterovitch, Perpetual E-Motion People s Voice Cafe: Magpie, Laura Warfield, Red Flag, 8pm, NYC. (212) 787-3903 Café Z: Laible Blu, Open Mike, 7pm, Rahway. (732) 388-3865 Acoustic Cafe: McMule, Alice Leon, 8pm, Park Ridge. www.cafeacoustic.org, (201) 573-0718 Hillside Cafe: Christine Santelli, 4pm, Nutley. (973) 667-7055 Music at the Mission: Jonathan Edwards, Loretta Hagen, 8pm, West Milford. www.musicatthemission.org 21/Sun. Russ Kelner w/ NJ Intergenerational Orchestra, Winter Concert, Madison Junior School Sacred Harp Singing, 1pm, NYC. Check www.manhattansing.org for venue. 25/Thurs. Odarka Stockert/Slight Imperfection: 8pm, Cafe Verde, Phillipsburg. www.myspace.com/slightimperfection or (908) 454-7477 26/Fri. Minstrel: Martin Swinger, Circle Round the Sun Drew U Festival of Irish Music and Dance, 8pm, Madison. (973) 408-3257, www.drew.edu/grad.aspx Outpost in the Burbs: Vance Gilbert & Dala, 8pm, Montclair. www.outpostintheburbs.org Pinewoods Concert: Michelle Choiniere, 7:30pm, NYC. www.folkmusicny.org or (718) 672-6399 27/Sat. People s Voice Cafe: Mike Agranoff, Peter Pasco, 8pm, NYC. (212) 787-3903 Coffee with Conscience: David Roth, Greg Greenway, Reggie Harris, 8pm, Westfield. www.coffeewithconscience.org 28/Sun. Sacred Harp Sing, 2pm, Montclair Friends Meeting. (973) 779-8290 North Jersey English Country Dancers, Tom Arnesse calling, 2pm, Ridgewood. (201) 447-1136. www.maxellute.net/njecd.html 9
10 Trout Fishing in America Coming to Spring Festival The renowned folk rock duo Trout Fishing in America will be featured performers at the Spring Folk Project Festival,14 16, 2010. Trout Fishers Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet have been nominated four times for Grammies. They have earned widespread critical praise from USA Today, Billboard, and The Los Angeles Times, which described them as, some of the most lyrically creative, musically sophisticated, vocally muscular music-makers in the family music business. The Spring Festival roster also features duo Siobhan Quinn and Michael Bowers and soloist Nathan Rogers. Our dance band will be the Dead Sea Squirrels, who will also perform a concert set on Friday night. Bob Isaacs will be the caller. Folk Project performers will be Andy Koenig, Jim West and Betsy Rose and the Chicago Fire. Trout Fishing will be joining us just for Saturday, leading a two-hour workshop and doing a one-hour set at the Saturday night concert. The Spring Festival will also welcome a return of the skit, written and directed by George Otto. It promises to be a rollicking good time, so mark your calendars and save the date. The festival will be held at Star Lake Camp in Bloomingdale. Further details are available oat http://festival.folkproject.org. And if you have any questions, please contact me at festival@folkproject.org. Look for more details and a registration form in next month s newsletter. Hope to see you there! Lori Falco, Festival Chair Drew U Festival of Irish Music and Dance Fri., Feb. 26, 8pm Dorothy Young Center for the Arts Concert Hall Drew University, Madison Featuring Mick Moloney (vocals, guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo; Billy McComiskey (button accordion); Jerry O Sullivan (uilleann pipes, flute, whistles, Scottish smallpipes); Dana Lyn (fiddle); Brendan Dolan (piano); Niall O Leary (Irish stepdancing); Earle Hitchner (emcee) Tickets: $20. Call 973-408-3257, ( $2 service fee per ticket); Drew U students, staff and faculty: $2; Info: www.drew.edu/grad.aspx; dlomauro@drew.edu NY Pinewoods Winter Folk Music Weekend Feb. 5 7 Warwick Conference Center, Warwick, NY An informal weekend getaway with lots of music making, jamming, singing, pls outdoors activities surrounded by beautiful scenery. The Center has a central gathering room with a fireplace and several smaller areas suitable for informal music making we hear tell there s even more music going on than at a Folk Project Festival. Visit www.folkmusicny.org/weekends or call (718) 672-6399 Join the Folk Project Cut out this handy dandy membership form and mail it, with your membership fee, to Rick Thomas, 12 Upper Warren Way, Warren, NJ 07059. Info? (908) 647-7517 or membership@folkproject.org or Choose at least one: New Renew Doo be doo Name Address Home Tel. Work Tel. E mail 1: E mail 2: Do you play or sing music: [ ] For fun [ ] Occasionally perform in public [ ] Professionally or semi-professionally Basic Individual membership @ $20/year $ (You ll receive this personal monthly newsletter.) Supporting membership @ $25/year $ (Personal monthly newsletter PLUS our eternal gratitude) Family membership* $ (Additional family members @ $3 each per year) Multiple Year Membership $ number of banjo-tossing years X type of membership. You do the math. DONATION to Folk Project (Tax deductible! We are also eligible for Corporate Matching Donations and banjos.) $ NEW! Please check one: Total amount enclosed: I d like to receive a print newsletter $ I d like to save trees and receive an Enewsletter Make your check payable to: The Folk Project *Family membership is one basic or supporting membership plus $3 for each additional family member/banjo. Please list the names of additional family members: Ahoy Folkies! Steve Gillette, Cindy Mangsen, and Jack Williams will be cruising again next summer! Their last big venture was a journey to Alaska back in 2004. They'll be sailing on the Holland America ship Maasdam, leaving Boston on July 3 and arriving in Montreal on July 10. Stops along the way are St. John, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown and Quebec City. The three will give two concerts on board ship, solely for the tour group. We'll also have a couple of receptions, and plenty of time for some relaxed song sessions, maybe even a workshop if there's interest. In order to attend the concerts and other events, you must register for the cruise through Traveling Troubadour, rather than directly with Holland America. Visit or call (800) 584-6724 or (540) 887-8491. 11
Folk Project Board Meeting January, 2010 Board Meeting: The Summary The Project s First Meeting of the New Decade... was called to order at 8:06 on January 5, at the home of Ruth Wolfish. Present were Jim King, Evelyn Maurer, Lois DeRitter, Brad Pryor, Scooter Ferguson and Ruth Wolfish (Trustees), as well as Elizabeth Lachowicz, Ed Roffman, Mike Agranoff, Pat Brangs, Connie Crawford, Lori Falco, Pam Robinson, Bob Safranek, Mark Schaffer and Rick Thomas (Other Board Members). No guests this month. Absent were Alan Kugel, Jim Gartner, Alison Mazie, Chris Riemer, Carl Croce, Margaret Crowl, Sandie Reilly, Jean Scully, Rivka Willick and Bobbie Rosengarten. The minutes of the December meeting were approved, and we heard the following from the Standing Committees: As the new Publicity chair, Mark Schaffer is working with Joe D Andrea to enhance the Project website. Among other things, the new design will let committee chairs maintain their own pages, while also including space for operational support. Also with Mark s Support, Horses Sing None of It is working to put together a DVD of blues music. Ralph Litwin is selecting the tunes, and Don Riemer will be doing the video editing. The Minstrel had a good year in 2009. Attendance was up about 5% from 2008, although a rent increase kept the profits from growing at the same rate. Mike thinks he has some great shows booked over the next few months. Tickets are selling briskly for the Michael Manring Special Concert, and we ve almost reached break-even. On Sunday March 7th, we re sponsoring a special day with Beppe Gambetta, with a workshop in the afternoon, a pot-luck dinner and an evening concert, all at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship. Prices vary, based on what parts of the day you attend. Beyond the basic reports and such, there was some discussion of changing the structure of the board, or at least the procedures associated with our monthly meetings. If you read this from the beginning, you ll notice that a lot of folks were absent this month -- only 68% of the group actually showed up. As outgoing Secretary, Rick Thomas pointed out that it s been a problem all year, and a half dozen people missed three meetings or more. At two meetings, we lacked the quorum necessary for decision-making. We do have a By-Law that says Directors can be removed for lack of attendance at meetings, but it s not specific as to how many meetings are cause for dismissal. The attendance issue led to some discussion about changing the attendance requirements, revising the way that reports are delivered, spreading the reports out so that not every committee reports every month, etc. Stay tuned for further developments. Secretary s note Chris Riemer would like to thank Lori Falco for filling in at the January meeting, while he fought off a nasty winter cold. This report is based on her notes, but Chris is adding this small footnote, discovered when reopening an old meeting report template. From the meeting of January 2000: After some discussion, those present agreed to a renewed commitment to better attendance, following a report of the attendance details from 1998. The more things change Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 10:10. Next month s meeting will be February 2, at the home of Rick and Cathy Thomas, in Warren. GOOD OF THE ORDER/COMMUNITY NEWS This is a place to share news about memorable events and challenges you have faced in the past month with your Folk Project Community. Please send items to Eddie Roffman, eroffman@optonline.net. Rick and Cathy Thomas are glad to tell of their daughter Susannah s engagement! The wedding is planned for 2012, when Susannah hopes to finish law school. At the end of December, Cathy enjoyed getting caught up in a reenactment of the Battle of Trenton, at the Old Barracks Museum. Mark Schaffer shares news that his son, Willie, returned to college (at age 29). He s studying engineering at Jersey City State College where he finished his first semester with a 4.0 GPA! Eddie Roffman s cousin Debra is in Antarctica for four months. Debra is doing research, to complete her Ph.D. in ocean and climate physics. Cousin Debra is a folkie too; they get together each year at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Follow Debra s Antarctica blog at: http://mstsea.blogspot.com Mike Agranoff spent most of the holiday weekend repairing and bringing his broken computer back to life. Mike is proud to share that he will have a showcase performance (with a free admission) at the upcoming National Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis. Elizabeth Lachowicz son, Thomas, has been promoted to the rank of Private, First Class, at military school. They had a great time together during the holidays, visiting with family in Chicago. Elizabeth requests prayers for her sister, Susie, who is slowly recovering from meningitis and brain tumor surgery. Nancy and Russ Kelner want to thank Mark Edelman, Bob Ludwig and Rick Thomas for helping them with their computer. Dave Kleiner is back on his feet again and back in the classroom after having the plates and screws that had been installed in his ankle after he broke it in Ireland two years ago removed. - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - Winter Weekend 2010 Fri. Sun., Feb. 19 21 A weekend-long Evening o Music, held at a private home a converted barn near Pine Bush, New York. Mostly jamming, jabbering, eating and drinking. Sleeping space on-site is limited; day-trippers and stayers-at-nearby-hotels-and-b&bs are welcome. Contact Liz at (973) 429-0288 or lizpagan@verizon.net to learn more an/or reserve your floorspace now. Save a Tree Sign up for E-Newsletters Our monthly newsletter is now available in electronic version. Advantages of receiving the E-Newsletter are: you will receive it much earlier each month; you will be less likely to misplace it; this will save trees, energy and reduce greenhouse gases; you will save the Folk Project almost one dollar per month. Sign up at enews.folkproject.org 12 13
Steve Holland & Root Mean Square Feets Don t Fail Me Now! Blue Ribbon Cloggers: Meets in Pluckemin, Tuesdays, 7pm. Call Paula Fromen (908) 735-9133 or Heidi Rusch (908) 453-2750 for info. Center Contra: Gender-role free contra dance in NYC. LGBT Community Center, 208 West 13th St., Room 301, 7:30pm. Usually 2nd Fri. Open to all. (971) 991-0597, (347) 275-7983, or www.lcfd.org/nyc or email AmericanFolkDanceNYC@yahoo.com Country Dance*New York: dances every Saturday, English country dance every Tuesday, at the Church of the Village, 201 West 13th St. and 7th Ave., NYC. Soft soled shoes only. www.cdny.org, (212) 459-4080; Contras 1/2, 9, 16, 23; English Country 1/5, 12, 19, 26 Lambertville Country Dancers: Soft soled shoes only! Contra/English country. Info: (609) 882-7733 or www.lambertvillecountrydancers.org Maplewood International Dancers: creation House, 124 Dunnellen Rd., Maplewood. Mondays 7:30pm, $5. Beginners welcome, partner not necessary, refreshments served. Days (908) 273-6468, eves (973) 376-7568. http://njfolkdance.tripod.com/fd_maplewood.html Morristown International Dancers: Wednesdays, Mountain Lakes Comm. Church, 48 Briarcliff Rd, 8:30pm, 7:30pm beginners. $4 member/$5 non-member (973) 539-7020 or (973) 228-5966, http://njfolkdance.tripod.com/fd_morristown.html North Jersey English Country Dancers: 2nd & 4th Sundays, 2 5 pm, Unitarian Society, 113 Cottage Pl., Ridgewood. $8 members, $10 non. (201) 445-4497 or (201) 447-1136. www.maxellute.net/njecd.html; 1/14: No dance: 2/28: Tom Arnesse Palisades Folk Dancers: Twice a month on Sundays, 3pm, Church of the Atonement, Engle St. & Highland Ave., Tenafly. GinnyandHallB@cs.com. Philly Family Folk Dances: Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd, 3820 The Oak Rd, East Falls, PA. 2nd Sundays, 2 4:30pm (215) 844-2474 Princeton Folk Dance Group: 7:30pm, Riverside School, Riverside Drive, Princeton. Tuesdays (except school closings) www.princetonfolkdance.org (609) 924-6930 Princeton Folk Dancers: 8pm Fridays, Susan Patterson Center, Stockton St. & Monument Dr. (behind Borough Hall), Princeton, www.princetonfolkdance.org Princeton Country Dancers: Suzanne Patterson Center, Borough Hall, Princeton, Wed. (and some Saturdays) 8pm, beginners 7:40. Pickup band musicians welcome. Usually $6. (609) 683-7956 or (609) 924-8813, email pcdinfo@aol.com. Band info only: (609) 252-0248 or srl@mail.princeton.edu performerlisting at www.princetoncountrydancers.org. Special Community Dance, www.princetonol.com/groups/pcd/ PCD English Country Dance series: Dance 8-11, intro/basics at 7:30. $8 ($4 seniors & students). Call for info. Scandinavian Folk Dancing: Bound Brook. Alt. Thursdays, See skandinoje.org for info. Swingin Tern: Sat., 2/6: Jeff Walker, Walker Family Band; 2/20: Jeff Petrovitch, Perpetual E-Motion Valley Contra Dance Society: 7pm, 2nd and 4th Saturdays, UU Church of The Lehigh Valley, 424 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA. $9/$5 students. www.valleycontradance.org, (610) 868-7432 14 More on dancing at the Country Dance and Song Society www.cdss.org FEBRUARY Sat., 2/6: Jeff Walker & Walker Family Band Jeff Walker-guitar; Kathy Walker-fiddle; Peter Walker-accordion, Uilleann pipes; Laurel Walkerfiddle, mandolin, mandola; Mary Claire Walker-bass; Patrick Walker-penny whistle, flute, guitar; Forrest Walker-percussion...Contras Jeff keeps a close watch on these feet of mine His family band keeps the beat in time Jeff Walker and Walker Family Band Contras so fine, I walk the line I find it very easy to swing true With my partner together we pass through Courtesy turn and I'm a fool for you Contras so fine, I walk the line Sat., 2/20: Jeff Petrovitch & Perpetual E-Motion Ed Howe-fiddle, electric violin; John Cote-guitar, mandolin, didgeridoo, percussion...contras If you might give contra dancing A lifetime of devotion I second that emotion Maybe you'd like to hear some music sweet Not just one night, this you can repeat Maybe you'd like to hear a master call And dance the night away and have yourself a ball Come on twirl Into the night we twirl with delight With the Walkers everything s all right Our spirits they will fly high as a kite Contras so fine, I walk the line You've got a way to keep me by your side With swings and chains I know I cannot hide As my partner forever we will glide Contras so fine, I walk the line In that case you can play it smart I do believe that Dance will bring joy to your heart Oh, but if you feel like dancing now If you got the notion I second that emotion Jeff Petrovitch calling with the Band causing a comotion Perpetual e-motion Non-dancing children must be supervised at all times. Contra and Square Dancing to Live Music. All dances taught. No partner necessary. Beginner s workshop, 7:30pm; dance at 8pm. $10, $5 with student I.D. Soft soles only. First Presbyterian Church of East Hanover Parish House 14 Hanover Road, East Hanover, NJ 07936 From I-287 northbound or southbound: Exit 39, travel East on Route 10 for approx. 3.5 miles. Exit by the Ford dealership ( To River Road/Okner Pkway ) onto Mount Pleasant Ave. Tight at the second light onto Hanover Rd. then immediate left into the parking lot of the Parish House. From I-78: Exit 48 (Route 24 West) to Exit 2B, Route 510 East/Florham Park. Go 1.9 miles and turn left onto Hanover Rd. Turn right into the parking lot of the Parish House just before the road ends at Mount Pleasant Ave. Additional directions are on our website. (973) 762-4947 or (973) 635-1048 TERN ON THE NET! find us at dance.folkproject.org Presented by the Folk Project 15