Band members: step dancer Hanna Thurman, Odie and Andrea Parkins, Wendell and Linda Dobbs, and Mike NewmanI'm enjoying a new listening pleasure: the Celtic music of Blackbirds and Thrushes, a West Virginia group based in Huntington. Traditional Irish music joined with the lilting voices of Andrea Parkins and Linda Dobbs, the two CDs (New Heights and Calamity Nights) are immediately joining my list of favorites.
I first heard Andrea sing at a concert in Ripley at the Alpine Theatre. I'd met her as a member of the writing group, but her singing was a surprise to me. I was enthralled by the beauty, range and intensity of her voice, accompanied by the skilled playing of her husband Odie on the guitar and fiddle. The CDs capture that soaring voice along with fine accompaniment and instrumentals by band members Odie Parkins, Wendell Dobbs and Mike Newman, and the excellent vocals and accordion music of Linda Dobbs.
It's surprising that this group is not better known, but perhaps that's their choice. Sometimes a thing is enjoyed most when it's not "work." I don't think any of these folks are working when they perform on these CDs--their pleasure and joy in the music is apparent on every track.
No distributor is listed on the CDs, but for more information and bookings, contacts are listed as wendobbs@aol.com (304-529-7361) and newman1@zoomnet .
I first heard Andrea sing at a concert in Ripley at the Alpine Theatre. I'd met her as a member of the writing group, but her singing was a surprise to me. I was enthralled by the beauty, range and intensity of her voice, accompanied by the skilled playing of her husband Odie on the guitar and fiddle. The CDs capture that soaring voice along with fine accompaniment and instrumentals by band members Odie Parkins, Wendell Dobbs and Mike Newman, and the excellent vocals and accordion music of Linda Dobbs.
It's surprising that this group is not better known, but perhaps that's their choice. Sometimes a thing is enjoyed most when it's not "work." I don't think any of these folks are working when they perform on these CDs--their pleasure and joy in the music is apparent on every track.
No distributor is listed on the CDs, but for more information and bookings, contacts are listed as wendobbs@aol.com (304-529-7361) and newman1@zoomnet .
Aaron told me about this group. I would like to see them one day. I know Michaela would be right there dancing too.
ReplyDelete