Carroll Café this month celebrates the 25th wedding anniversary of Margreta and Jeffrey Silverstone. Margreta and Jeffrey met at a contra dance sponsored by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington at Takoma Park Middle School, so it is natural for them to celebrate their anniversary with the Takoma community. In true Takoma Park style, this is an invitation to a party! The Silverstones love Celtic folk rock and they knew they wanted the OCEAN Quartet to perform, especially as former members of the group were work colleagues of Jeffrey’s.
OCEAN Celtic Quartet (Jennifer Cutting on accordions & keyboard; Lisa Moscatiello on vocals, whistles & guitar; Andrew Dodds on fiddle, and Steve Winick on vocals and percussion) play music packed with pure pan-Celtic pizazz, putting their unique spin on traditional songs and Cutting’s original compositions, from soaring ballads and stirring sea chanteys to blazing fiddle and accordion tunes. As much at home in the concert hall as on the festival stage, OCEAN has played to sold-out and enthusiastic crowds at Maryland venues such as the Strathmore Mansion, Annapolis Maritime Museum, and Globe Theater in Berlin; and outdoor festivals and concert series such as Southern Maryland Celtic Festival and Riverside Concerts at Washington College in Chestertown. They have also performed at Musikfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the Folk Project’s Minstrel Concert Series in New Jersey, the Birchmere in Virginia, Mystic Seaport’s Sea Music Festival in Connecticut, and elsewhere in the Mid- Atlantic and the Northeast.
OCEAN is known for getting audiences up on their feet to dance to their electrifying jigs and reels, as well as for raising goosebumps with their soaring vocals and otherworldly airs. They perform originals contemplating the seasons of nature and human life, right alongside the oldest songs from British and Celtic tradition. Add a penchant for deep scholarship and a great sense of humor, and you have a band that will captivate all ages.
“The most dazzling performance . . . was given by . . . Jennifer Cutting. Live, her music was nothing short of spellbinding.”
—Sean Daly, Washington Post
Jennifer Cutting, a protégée of A.L. Lloyd and a Library of Congress ethnomusicologist, is a pioneering bandleader who founded OCEAN, and before that, The New St. George (which also featured Lisa Moscatiello). At home in the studio as well as onstage, Cutting has written and produced songs for artists such as Maddy Prior and Annie Haslam. Lisa Moscatiello has a voice that Billboard described as “one of the most gorgeous vocal instruments in all of folk-tinged pop,” and sang earlier in her career with bands such as Ceoltoiri and Whirligig. Stephen Winick, a Library of Congress folklorist, studied folklore with Kenny Goldstein and singing with Frank Harte. He has a PhD in Folklore from the University of Pennsylvania, and teaches at George Washington and George Mason universities. Champion Scottish fiddler Andrew Dodds teaches Celtic music at George Mason University. Together, they combine soaring vocals, award-winning original songs, rollicking tunes, and innovative arrangements of rare traditional repertoire uncovered by original archival research . . . a signature blend they call “Celtic Music for Ancient Moderns.”
To extend the party spirit, proceeds from the concert (aka contributions and gifts) will be donated to the OCEAN Quartet’s preferred charity, the Ocean Conservancy. To save a space for yourself to this event, book now. We do expect a full house. Come and party on May 12, 2017!
We invite you to enjoy delicious refreshments from the Café
at Carroll Café available before the show and at the intermission.
A changing choice of savories enough for a light meal, topped off with fabulous desserts and beverages, will add to the happiness of the concert experience! Always vegetarian, with some vegan and gluten-free options most months, all lovingly provided by Sandra.
Thank you for your support of Carroll Café.
Danny Whitecotton is a driven, passionate and charismatic artist based in Wilmington, Delaware. His music is a stunning combination of country, pop, rock and Americana, with tunes sung with a lot of heart and dedication.
A well-traveled performer, lecturer and cultural ambassador, Reggie has earned wide acclaimed and respect from peers and audiences alike throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and around the world. He combines spirituals and roots music, historic inspiration, and moving original songs, often in the themes of unity and social justice. Knowing this, audiences have bestowed upon him a fitting slogan: “Songs of Joy, Hope, and Freedom.”
Ken is a busy musician who is always involved in a number of projects. He is an active record producer, having worked on more than 135 albums. His productions have resulted in 11 Gold or Platinum albums, 22 Juno nominations, 2 Juno winners and 2 Grammy nominations, with total sales in excess of 8 million copies. He has written the music for a number of films and television programs. Whatever he does, it reflects his “briliant musicianship and high test passion”. In the words of Sing Out! magazine, “Ken Whiteley is one of the best.”
