AIRDANCE

is an exceptional contradance band which represents a living bridge between the 250 year contradance music tradition of New England and the contemporary tradition being practised today all over the United States and beyond. Many of the tunes that the band plays are antique and historical. Tunes such as Chorus Jig and Hull's Victory were written two hundred years ago and represent what are called "chestnuts" in that these tunes have contradances of the same names and have been performed continuously since the American Revolution. They are an important part of our American social history. The band's repertoire also consists of music written by present day dance musicians, including members of Airdance. These tunes are all part of the vital and living tradition that is American contradance music. Airdance presents this music in an entertaining and informative concert setting.

RODNEY MILLER--fiddle In 1983, Rodney Miller was designated a "Master Fiddler" by the National Endowment for the Arts. He is widely considered to be the foremost exponent of New England style fiddling, a uniquely American blend of French Canadian and Celtic influences. Over the past 30 years, he has toured the U.S., British Isles, Australia and Denmark, performed and taught at hundreds of music and dance festivals, and recorded over ten fiddle albums. In 1999, Rodney and David Surette were invited to represent the state of New Hampshire and play at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Rodney is a master violin-maker employed by Stamell Stringed Instruments in Amherst, Ma.

DAVID SURETTE--guitar, mandolin, bouzouki One of New England's finest guitarists, David Surette has long been known as a top-notch accompanist, fluent in various styles, and equally at home on the mandolin and bouzouki. He maintains an active teaching schedule and is head of the Folk Music department at the Concord (NH) Community Music School. He was awarded an NEA travel grant in 1994 to study the traditional music of Brittany, France, and has written a book of Celtic guitar arrangements for Mel Bay Publications.

MARY CAY BRASS--piano, accordion From Putney, Vt., Mary Cay Brass has been playing piano and accordion for New England contradances for 20 years. She also plays in the Greenfield Dance Band as well as numerous band combinations and is the musical director for a community chorus that she established. She has appeared at festivals and camps from coast to coast and recently toured England and Scotland with Rodney Miller playing for a travelling Ceilidh Circus.

STUART KENNEY--bass Stuart Kenney's musical interests range form New England contradance music to Cajun and Blues. He plays bass and is a member of Airdance, Wild Asparagus and the Greenfield Dance Band. Stuart has appeared at the Ashokan (NY) Fiddle and Dance workshops and many festivals throughout the country. Although Stuart's music has brought him coast to coast, his musical home is at the Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield, Ma., where he plays for many dances.

SAM ZUCCHINI--percussion Sam makes his home in Saratoga Springs, NY, where he plays and teaches music. He started drumming in elementary school and went on to study Jazz music at the University of Miami. In addition to his work with Rodney Miller, he can be heard with an assortment of groups. These include Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, and also the Zucchini Brothers, a trio that travels the United States playing music for kids of all ages in schools, theatres and festivals, and on radio and TV.