The Fiddling Cricket CD Label

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The Fiddling Cricket CD Label was started specifically to get The Waybacks' first CD, Devolver, made and out to market quickly (in 2000). Since then two other Waybacks' CD's have been added to the label, plus two from Houston Jones. Michael Stadler's fine debut solo CD, North Country is also on the Fiddling Cricket Label, as is that of the Connie Doolan Quartet, Haunt Your Heart.

The Waybacks

HoustonJones

Wayne "Chojo" Jacques

Michael Stadler

Connie Doolan Quartet

CD Purchases

The Waybacks www.waybacks.com It's flatpicked and fingertsyle acoustic guitar, fiddle, mandolin, doghouse bass and brushy drums with harmony vocals. But what do you call it? Bluegrass? Newgrass? Crabgrass? "Acoustic Mayhem" seems to be the term that best describes The Waybacks, both here on disc and in their live shows. Styles represented include Grappelli-esque swing, Kumbaya-free folk, cowboy jazz, Celtoid, newgrass, rhumba, beat poetry and space-jam. Surf by the Waybacks website to find out all about them and see the collection of fantastic reviews they get. Here's a good one: "This eclectric quintet ventures where few acoustic groups have gone. The music made by the Waybacks... features some of the most exotic settings for mind-blowing picking you'll ever hear. These guys are extraordinary musicians, and their spellbinding solos will leave you slack jawed. They call their music 'acoustic mayhem.' I call it sheer genius." - Michael Miller, BayArea.Com CD's » Devolver (2000) » Burgers After Church (2001) » Way Live (2003) - Recorded over three sold-out nights in front of a very enthusiastic audience at a Fiddling Cricket Concerts Series show at the Espresso Garden Cafe, San Jose, CA. February 26th-28th, 2003 The Waybacks have now moved on to bigger things and their most recent CD is on the Compass label. Over the years some band members have moved on and others arrived. The current line up is James Nash (lead guitar, mandolin, vocals), the longest serving member and on all Waybacks CDs; Warren Hood (fiddle, mandolin, vocals), the most recent member; Joe Kyle Jr. (stand up bass, vocals), and Chuck Hamilton (drums, percussion and vocals). Both Joe and Chuck are long serving members. Those who have moved on are Wayne "Chojo" Jacques and Stevie Coyle, co-founders of the band, Glenn Houston, the early lead guitarist, Chris Kee (bass and vocals) and Peter Tucker (drums and percussion)

Houston Jones www.houstonjones.com Started in 2002 as a collaboration between one of the original Waybacks, lead guitarist, Glen "Houston" Pomianek and veteran vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Travis Jones, the group quickly evolved into a quartet with percussionist Peter Tucker (also an original Wayback) and bassist Robert "Woody" Trevorrow. Again, like the Waybacks, nailing down a genre is difficult, but High Octane Americana, has been used. With influences that range across the American musical landscape, from the Celtic strains of Appalachia to the greasy soul of Mussel Shoals, the group has developed a repertoire that includes originals and covers of Hank Williams ("Long Gone Lonesome Blues"), Robert Johnson ("Crossroads"), Vince Gill ("Whenever You Come Around Here") and Nanci Griffith ("Love at the Five and Dime")." Part of what makes the group so effective is that it seamlessly blends instrumental prowess with tasty vocal harmonies, occasionally dropping a dramatically rendered four-part a cappella gospel number in the middle of a set…" - - Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News In 1994, bassist and song writer, Chris Kee joined the band, replacing Woody Trevorrow. Chojo Jacques, fiddle/mandolin player, joins them as guest player quite often, as well as appearing on all their CDs except the first. Henry Salvia (keyboards and accordion) also often joins them on stage and can be heard on their latest CD, Calico Heart. CD's » Houston Jones (2002) » Hojo Mojo with Chojo (2003) - Recorded live at a variety of Bay Area shows, including the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, with Chojo Jacques (www.chojo.net) on fiddle and mandolin. » 3 Crow Town (2005) - Chojo Jaques produced this album and appears on it as a guest artist. » Calico Heart (2007)

Wayne "Chojo" Jacques www.chojo.net Fiddle/mandolin player Chojo Jacques co-founded The Waybacks in 1998 with Stephen Coyle and Glenn "Houston" Pomianek. He features strongly on all three of the Waybacks' CDs on the Fiddling Cricket label, as well as on the Houston Jones CDs, HoJo Mojo with Chojo ,Three Crow Town, and Calico Heart. In 2004 he left The Waybacks to pursue other ventures, including producing Three Crow Town and working on a solo CD of his own for the Fiddling Cricket Label (yet to appear!). He is currently working on a project and a duo CD with Billy Bright, of Two High String Band, with whom he also tours and records. Go to Chojo's website to see Chojo's gig schedule and find out the latest news on what he is getting up to.

Michael Stadler www.michaelstadler.com Michael Stadler is a highly talented multi-instrumentalist (guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin) and also a fine singer-songwriter and folk/country vocalist. In addition to his solo CD, North Country, on the Fiddling Cricket label, he is also a contributor to a number of other CD's and co-founder of the Mike Stadler and Mary Gibbons Band. Mike just had an article in the December 2007 Acoustic Guitar Magazine on Claw-hammer style guitar, something in which he specializes.

Connie Doolan Quartet Connie Doolan has been appearing on the Fiddling Cricket stage for all 11 years we have been in existence. With classical, jazz, and musical theater training, music teaching and playing have always been Connie's living. As one of the principal vocalists of The Mighty Avalanche Choir, her beautiful soprano was heard in folk and Celtic arrangements for several years at the FC Annual Holiday Party. Later she also appeared as one third of the group, Mehitabel, (Sylvia Herold of Cats and Jammers and Patrice Haan from Leftover Dreams). Over the last few years Connie has concentrated on developing her own group, and releasing her debut CD, Haunt Your Heart. It features beautifully arranged renditions of material ranging from Tom Waits to bluesy versions of traditional American and Irish songs, to favorite jazz standards, swing, folk, Celtic and quirky pop hits. Accompanying Connie's vocals is the entirely elegant and lyrical playing of the rest of the Quartet, consisting of Julian Smedley on violin and viola (formerly of The Hot Club of San Francisco), Mike Wallenberg on jazz guitar, and Steven Strauss on upright bass and ukulele.

CD Purchases You can purchase any of the above CD's by sending a check made out to C. R. Brundle for $16.95 to: Fiddling Cricket Music 4215 Fairway Dr Soquel, CA 95073 or, preferably, by going directly to the artist's website.

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Last Updated: 011/15/07