Combining the talents of two contra dance-circuit favorites and two next-generation stars, JEMS delivers an authentic New England sound with innovative contemporary elements. Whitefield, Maine-based fiddle wizard Ed Howe, a longtime member of the duo Perpetual e-Motion, is renowned for the intensity and nuance of his playing. Bassist, banjo player, teacher, and dance host Stuart Kenney, of Greenfield, Mass., is a former 13-year member of the band Wild Asparagus. Multi-instrumentalist Jamie Oshima, of Whitefield, Maine, and percussionist Matthew Kenney, of Greenfield, Mass., enliven the traditional repertoire with their youthful energy and sparkling musicianship.
- Jamie Oshima—guitar, piano, and foot percussion
- Ed Howe—fiddle
- Matthew Kenney—percussion
- Stuart Kenney—upright bass and 5-string banjo
Sound provided by Ed Howe
This month’s caller is Nils Fredland. Nils is well known in the traditional music and dance world as a caller and trombonist with the band Elixir. A caller since 2000, he draws on a broad repertoire of dances, both old and new. His style is inclusive, crystal clear, and unfailingly cheerful.
