Cucanandy consists of Stephanie Johnston (vocals, guitar, bodhran), Mike Casey (Irish flute, guitar, whistles), Malke Rosenfeld (percussive dance, Irish flute, bodhran, whistles), and Jason Cade (fiddle, mandolin). Reveiwers of the first Cucanandy recording (He Didn't Dance) have said:
Cucanandy sounds wonderfully inventive...
-The Washington Post
The musicianship is top-notch...a joy to behold.
-Sing Out! Magazine
These well-traveled and talented North Carolina-based musicians dish up songs and tunes from Ireland, Canada, their southern home turf, and beyond with rare panache and sparkle.
-Acoustic Guitar
Strong melodies, rich vocals and rhythms augmented by the percussive use of dance characterize this engaging set of material.
-The Independent
Over the past two years Cucanandy has toured extensively in the eastern United States, also reaching into the Midwest and western US and Canada.
The band has performed at venues all over including the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY, the Cherry Tree in Philidelphia, the Prism in Charlottesville, and the Institute of Musical Traditions concert series in MD; festivals in Nova Scotia, Michigan, Georgia and California; and performing arts centers in Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Arizona.
Band Members:
Jason Cade (fiddle, mandolin) Jason grew up in the western North Carolina town of Celo. After dabbling in various fiddle styles, he spent a year abroad at University College-Dublin, mostly in pubs, learning traditional Irish music. Jason has returned to the west of Ireland for extended stays to immerse himself in the expressive, lively music of County Clare.
Mike Casey (Irish flute, guitar) For the past decade, Mike has performed tradition-based music and stories in concert and workshops throughout the eastern United States. He is an accomplished flute player who has journeyed to Ireland to learn the smooth and steady style of playing favored by the older musicians in the East Galway region of the country.
Stephanie Johnston (vocals, guitar, bodhran) While still in high school Stephanie formed a Celtic band in Nashville, TN. Since then she has played all over the country with more than a dozen folk acts. Steve Winick (Dirty Linen Magazine) calls her voice "...strong and clear...with a nice edge...a supple and ethereal sound."
Malke Rosenfeld (percussive dance, Irish flute) Known by audiences and students alike as "infectious with enthusiasm for dancing", percussive dancer and musician Malke Rosenfeld toured internationally with the acclaimed Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, including the London run of Riverdance. She is fluent in a variety of dance styles including Cape Breton step dance and old-time flatfooting, and has studied intensively with Sandy Silva, foot percussionist with the band Open House, and NEA Choreography Fellow Eileen Carson.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.cucanandy.com
Track List:
1. Maid on the Shore
2. Reels: The Casey Set
3. Jigs: What Would You Do?
4. Yon Green Valley
5. Tha Mi Sgith Dhen Fhogair Seo (I Am Tired of This Exile)
6. Jigs: The Hunters Moon
7. Reel: The Hunt for Wild Flora
8. Helen of Kirconnell
9. Jig/Reels: LEsquimaux
10. Reels: West Coast Reels
11. Female Sailor Bold
12. Reels: Im Waiting for You
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
Cucanandy sounds wonderfully inventive...
-The Washington Post
The musicianship is top-notch...a joy to behold.
-Sing Out! Magazine
These well-traveled and talented North Carolina-based musicians dish up songs and tunes from Ireland, Canada, their southern home turf, and beyond with rare panache and sparkle.
-Acoustic Guitar
Strong melodies, rich vocals and rhythms augmented by the percussive use of dance characterize this engaging set of material.
-The Independent
Over the past two years Cucanandy has toured extensively in the eastern United States, also reaching into the Midwest and western US and Canada.
The band has performed at venues all over including the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY, the Cherry Tree in Philidelphia, the Prism in Charlottesville, and the Institute of Musical Traditions concert series in MD; festivals in Nova Scotia, Michigan, Georgia and California; and performing arts centers in Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Arizona.
Band Members:
Jason Cade (fiddle, mandolin) Jason grew up in the western North Carolina town of Celo. After dabbling in various fiddle styles, he spent a year abroad at University College-Dublin, mostly in pubs, learning traditional Irish music. Jason has returned to the west of Ireland for extended stays to immerse himself in the expressive, lively music of County Clare.
Mike Casey (Irish flute, guitar) For the past decade, Mike has performed tradition-based music and stories in concert and workshops throughout the eastern United States. He is an accomplished flute player who has journeyed to Ireland to learn the smooth and steady style of playing favored by the older musicians in the East Galway region of the country.
Stephanie Johnston (vocals, guitar, bodhran) While still in high school Stephanie formed a Celtic band in Nashville, TN. Since then she has played all over the country with more than a dozen folk acts. Steve Winick (Dirty Linen Magazine) calls her voice "...strong and clear...with a nice edge...a supple and ethereal sound."
Malke Rosenfeld (percussive dance, Irish flute) Known by audiences and students alike as "infectious with enthusiasm for dancing", percussive dancer and musician Malke Rosenfeld toured internationally with the acclaimed Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, including the London run of Riverdance. She is fluent in a variety of dance styles including Cape Breton step dance and old-time flatfooting, and has studied intensively with Sandy Silva, foot percussionist with the band Open House, and NEA Choreography Fellow Eileen Carson.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.cucanandy.com
Track List:
1. Maid on the Shore
2. Reels: The Casey Set
3. Jigs: What Would You Do?
4. Yon Green Valley
5. Tha Mi Sgith Dhen Fhogair Seo (I Am Tired of This Exile)
6. Jigs: The Hunters Moon
7. Reel: The Hunt for Wild Flora
8. Helen of Kirconnell
9. Jig/Reels: LEsquimaux
10. Reels: West Coast Reels
11. Female Sailor Bold
12. Reels: Im Waiting for You
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- FOLK: Traditional Folk
- WORLD: Celtic
- TYPE: ACOUSTIC