Temporary Stringband, Gilmore Lee, Nick Rowse- Flop Eared Mule

This tune Gilmore learned up near the Canadian border.  It was the first tune he learned.  Nick rowse and his band, Eelpout Stringers, were kind enough to play this one on the disk.  The rest of the 'pouts couldn't make it, so my Temporary Stringband hosted both of them up to play it.  The extra bonus is that it was Gilmore's birthday. I am not going to give away how young he is. This was the last song of the night at the CD release show.

Tjarnbloms- Stoltman's Dad's Waltz

This was Aubrey Ottley's (The person who mastered the disk) favorite track on the disk.  We put it last because it lulls you to sleep.  A great tune and a great perfromance.  Tjanbloms are left to right- Joe Alfano, mandolin; Mary Crimi, nycelharpa; Cheryl Paschke, nycelharpa; and Val Eng, Harmonium (off camera). Tune in progress.

 

Tjarnbloms- Henry Grondahl's Schottische

Tjarnbloms are a highly entertaining band that play mostly music from across the pond.  They play a fun arrangement of instruments: octave mando, 2 nycelharpas, and a harmonium. Here they are playing a tune we learned from the playing of Hillary Stoltman.  The soundman for the evening, Matt Larson, said they he could listen to them play all night. Tune in progress.

 

Sara Pajunen- Jalasjarven Polka

There were not many moments on the Minnesota Fiddle Tunes Project CD where I tried to match up the culture of the source tune with the performer. On this tune I could not resist. Sulo Hackman was very involved in the Finnish music scene in Minnesota as a player, a promoter, and a venue owner. Sara Pajunen also shares a deep love of Finnish music. Her band Kaivama is quite wonderful. Here she is accompanied by Joe Fishbein and Matt Hafele. Tune in progress.

 

Gritpickers- Albert's Schottische

The Gritpickers are one of my favorite MN old-time bands.  It sounds like they are from another time.  Here they are playing this great Leonard Finseth tune.  It is a special treat to hear Myron playing this tune on harmonica.  On the CD he plays guitar.  The only problem is that the video starts a few seconds into the tune.

 

Minnesota Pickers- Oh, So Many Berries

The Minnesota Pickers are a group that was put together for the CD.  They came back together to play at the CD release show.  All they were missing was the talented Karen Mueller on autoharp.  Dan Mackerman, Sherry Minnick, and Eric Hatling (R to L), have been all involved in the old-time scene here for quite a while.  It was fun to get to hear them play together.

 

Catie Jo Pidel and Eldon Hagen- Kettlescrubber

This was my favorite tune on the disk.  I might even like it better live here with just Catie Jo and Eldon.  Eldon changed how he played it for the release party and it really shined.  They played this one tune, were going to leave the stage, and then the crowd demanded an encore.  The tune comes from Archie Teigan.

Art Bjorngjeld- Elmer Running Medley

I was very excited when Art Bjorngjeld agreed to be a part of the Minnesota Fiddle Tunes Project CD release.  He is one of the few fiddlers in the state playing tunes that his family has been playing for generations in the Upper-Midwest.  My band, Temporary Stringband, played his Elmer Running's Tune on the disk.  Here he is playing it with his buddy Dan Hansen on guitar.  It is the second tune in the medley.

Poor Benny - Dick Halverson's Waltz

Clayton Schanilec and his band the Haybirds were kind enough to learn and record this tune for the CD.  The Haybirds could not make it to the CD release party so he had his other band play.  I have always highly regarded Poor Benny and their Appalachian stylings.  They did a very nice job on this tune we got from the playing of Harold Sorenson.