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1. John Conroy's Jig/Tom Billy's (Jigs) |
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| In the spring of 2001, Sam released his
first solo album, Solo Fiddle. It is a collection of 12 traditional Irish
fiddle pieces, performed unadorned and without a backing instrument. After
years of performing with his family and with the avant-folk quartet Assembly
(formerly Popcorn Behavior), Solo Fiddle is a departure: stark and introspective
instrumental music, coming directly out of the Irish tradition. It is at
once traditional and personal, classic and experimental. Solo Fiddle has
drawn praise from critics, musicians, and listeners alike, from Irish music
connoisseurs as well as those not specifically interested in Irish music.
In concert, Sam's solo fiddle program is no less exciting. The simplicity
of the setup (one player, no backup, no arrangements) opens up a small world
of details and sounds to the listener.
PRESS "This spring, Sam released Solo Fiddle, which will do much to establish him in people's minds as a musician of high caliber. Without a doubt, there will be a lot of good music to come from the hands of Sam Amidon. Get on board now." -Fiddler Magazine "Sam has pitted his abilities against a host of solo players and he fares quite well. The showpiece of Solo Fiddle is 'The Humors of Ballylaughlin' with its sustained intensity and supremely danceable rhythm." -SingOut! Magazine "Amidon is a talented young fiddler - the simple, clean arrangements on this disc bring out (the tunes') inherent emotions." -Dirty Linnen Magazine "Amidon's style is lean and muscular with a minimum of pyrotechnics, and is extremely eloquent. Skip the morbid graphics and get to grips with Sam Amidon's music. It's good - very good." -Green Man Review "Man, I got the goosebumps listening to your CD. It held me spellbound, from the beginning. I put it on thinking I would be able to go off to the bathroom and piss and, you know, listen from the bathroom. I had to piss really badly. Then I put it on and I couldn't move. The first thing that really came consciously was this thought: this is really daring. I mean DARING. I listened to one half the album before I left the room." -Sam Bartlett, musician "WOW ! ! Opening the promotional package and reading Sam Bartlett's comments I thought, "how tasteless," but here I am in the same situation. I think you¹ve got a great album." -Jerry Tiemann, Music Director KAFM "VERY refreshing to hear a solo fiddle recording with nothing else going on. A brave and brilliant move, and you pulled it off both technically and musically -- congratulations!" -Bob Mills, musician "Congratulations, Sam, on your proud and elegant solo CD." -Michael Alpert of Brave Old World. "I have listened to your solo record probably ten times in the last three days. I am so moved and impressed." -Zach Wallace of Memorize the Sky and Flashpapr
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