Andy May: Dance of Life~ A Mandolin Celebration
Ernie and Patti Hill, Walnut Valley Festival Magazine; Sep 1, 1999
This CD is re-sequenced version of Andy’s 1986 recording of the same title, subtitled, "A Mandolin Celebration." Re-sequencing means that the original recording has been digitally re-mastered, removing noise, producing a crystal clear recording.
Andy is joined by several stellar musicians including Kenny Kosek on fiddle, David Dick on banjo, and Rudy Weeks on most of the bass tracks. The songs are traditional except for Bill Monroe’s "Bluegrass Stomp," Andy’s own "Dance of Life" and his Celtic flavored "Bay of Fundy Reel." A highlight of this collection is a vocal version of "Soldiers Joy." The tunes on this CD are performed tastefully at a cool tempo. These arrangements provide a relaxed ambient atmosphere and allow the novice picker (like me!) a chance to play along with tunes like "Bill Chatham," "Cripple Creek," and "Devils Dream" at a pace I can keep up with. My favorite is "St. Anne’s Reel." Many flat pickers have turned the bridge section of this song into a samba, a Cha Cha or one of those Caribbean things. I thoroughly enjoyed this recording and thank you Andy May for keeping "St. Anne’s Reel" a real reel. --Walnut Valley Festival Program
Andy is joined by several stellar musicians including Kenny Kosek on fiddle, David Dick on banjo, and Rudy Weeks on most of the bass tracks. The songs are traditional except for Bill Monroe’s "Bluegrass Stomp," Andy’s own "Dance of Life" and his Celtic flavored "Bay of Fundy Reel." A highlight of this collection is a vocal version of "Soldiers Joy." The tunes on this CD are performed tastefully at a cool tempo. These arrangements provide a relaxed ambient atmosphere and allow the novice picker (like me!) a chance to play along with tunes like "Bill Chatham," "Cripple Creek," and "Devils Dream" at a pace I can keep up with. My favorite is "St. Anne’s Reel." Many flat pickers have turned the bridge section of this song into a samba, a Cha Cha or one of those Caribbean things. I thoroughly enjoyed this recording and thank you Andy May for keeping "St. Anne’s Reel" a real reel. --Walnut Valley Festival Program