JOELLEN LAPIDUS: Joellen Lapidus In Concert

Joellen Lapidus

Joellen Lapidus In Concert

© 2005 Shimmering Music (806838123429)

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This high octane dulcimer CD switches back and forth like a mountain trail weaving through foot stomping old time music, eerily chordally droned harmonies, punctuated middle eastern rhythms, and lyrics that evoke tenderness as well as mischievious humor.

tracks

1 Intro: Medley of 3 Traditional Songs
2 Medley: Goin' To Boston/Boil Them Cabbage Down/ Uncle Joe
3 Intro: Fall In Love
4 Fall In Love
5 Into: Shady Grove
6 Shady Grove
7 Intro: Dead Lady
8 Dead Lady
9 Intro: What Do You Know Of Me
10 What Do You Know Of Me
11 Intro: Two Miles
12 Two Miles
13 Intro: Children of Darkness
14 Children of Darkness
15 Intro: Microwave Oven
16 Microwave Oven
17 Intro: The Fox
18 The Fox
19 Intro: Carey
20 Carey

notes

Joellen Lapidus is one of the pioneers of contemporary fretted dulcimer playing, songwriting, and instrument building and is the author of the dulcimer instruction book "Lapidus on Dulcimer". Joellen blends Appalachian, Indian, Arabic, jazz, classical, and pop musical styles to give the dulcimer a new range of rhythmic, melodic, and tuning possibilities. As a dulcimer maker, her work influenced many of the dulcimer builders of the 70's and 80's. Her instruments were known for their innovative shapes and exquisite soundhole and peghead inlay work. She introduced the dulcimer to Joni Mitchell and made three instruments for her between 1968 and 1976. She has also made instruments for David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Wendy Waldman and Garth Hudson.
The March 2004 concert, recorded on her newly released CD, "Joellen Lapidus In Concert", marks her first performance in over 10 years.
Joellen teaches dulcimer privately in West Los Angeles and at McCabes Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. She has also returned to her original musical loves - the clarinet and the accordion. She performs with the band "Extreme Klezmer Makeover" and teaches a high energy "Klezmer Band Workshop" at McCabes Guitar Shop.

reviews

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  • children of darkness
    author: boro naumoski

    I came to Joellen lapidus through the web of Richard and Mimi Farina. I wae trying to find some covers of children .. This is a really impressive cover the sound reminds me to 60`s .very nice . greetings from macedonia

  • children of darkness
    author: boro naumoski

    I came to Joellen lapidus through the web of Richard and Mimi Farina. I wae trying to find some covers of children .. This is a really impressive cover the sound reminds me to 60`s .very nice . greetings from macedonia

  • Pioneering Dulcimer, but not Dulcimer of the Pioneers.
    author: Steven K. Smith

    As the liner notes say, Joellen Lapidus is one of the pioneers of the mountain dulcimer. She was one of the first to use the dulcimer for contemporary music composition, while respecting and reinventing the traditional folk music normally associated with the instrument. This album is a recording of a live concert from March of 2004, and marks (hopefully) her return to performing with the dulcimer after a more than ten year hiatus. The album is worth the wait. It captures the magic and intimacy of the live performance, and includes all her introductions to the pieces, even her changing tuning for one of the tunes! Nothing spoils the illusion that you’re attending the concert. She sprinkles traditional tunes like “Goin’ to Boston,” and “Shady Grove,” with original compositions, (she wrote half of the songs on the album) and for good measure there’s a cover of “Children of Darkness” by Richard Farina, and “Carey” by Joni Mitchell. The traditional tunes and covers are done with enough personalization to justify owning another copy of the song. Her originals range from touching to funny, and are played with a refreshing sense of mischievousness and a vibrant undercurrent of energy. She is ably accompanied by Novi on viola and Omar Vallé on percussion. They lend a tasteful support to Joellen’s voice and dulcimer without getting in the way of her playing. This is a live recording, so don’t expect studio perfection in every note of the performance. However, the glitches are few, and not bothersome. The balance could be a little better between the voice and dulcimer at times, in my opinion, for example. This is a minor quibble at best, though, and doesn’t detract from the album as a whole. Highly recommended.

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