Jay
Ungar and Molly Mason
with
special guest Matt Brown
September 11, 2010
8:00 pm
We are delighted to open the new season with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason.
Jay and Molly are extraordinary musicians. If you didn't know it
before, you sure did after Ken Burns' The Civil War hit the airwaves. Their
performance of Jay's haunting composition Ashokan Farewell — the musical
hallmark of the PBS series — earned the couple international acclaim. The
soundtrack won a Grammy and Ashokan Farewell — originally inspired by Jay
& Molly's annual fiddle and dance camps — was nominated for an Emmy.
Of course Ashokan Farewell is only part of the story.
Since joining forces in the late 1970s, Jay and Molly have become one of the
most celebrated duos on the American acoustic music scene. With their
comfortable sense of fun and their love of music, they make each concert a
musical journey — sometimes spanning two continents and two centuries. Their
incomparable warmth and wit — coupled with consummate musicianship — have
delighted audiences worldwide.
Listen to the timeless renditions of hard-driving Appalachian, Cajun and
Celtic fiddle tunes, stirring Civil War classics, sassy songs from the golden
age of swing and country, stunning waltzes, and deeply moving original
compositions. It's immediately apparent why Jay and Molly concerts warm the
heart, feed the soul, and appeal to all ages. No wonder they continue to receive
widespread critical praise.
They've garnered legions of fans through their appearances on Great
Performances, A Prairie Home Companion, their own public radio specials, and
work on film soundtracks such as Brother's Keeper, Legends of the Fall, and a
host of Ken Burns documentaries.
And what of the event that inspired their signature tune? Jay and Molly's
Ashokan Fiddle & Dance Camps — in New York's Catskill Mountains — remain
a favorite learning vacation destination for music and dance enthusiasts all
across the country.
If you love American acoustic music, a Jay Ungar & Molly Mason concert is
a must.
Opening for Jay and Molly is Pennsylvania native Matt
Brown. Matt performs American roots music with a deft touch and a smile.
He is an engaging performer who educates his audiences as he entertains with a
varied program of traditional music. He plays sprightly square dance tunes,
haunting banjo pieces, and sings a variety of songs from the blues to ballads.
He is an innovative fiddler, an intricate banjo player, a propulsive guitar
player, and a moving singer. Much of his repertoire comes from the Appalach
ian
south, but he also loves sharing the songs of his home state, Pennsylvania. Matt
teaches traditional music in a variety of settings, and is also an active
producer, studio musician, and partner in 5-String Productions, an independent
label specializing in acoustic music.
We are looking forward to another wonderful season. Come start it
with us!
