Pond Jam

Oliver Scanlon and Friends' 'THE POND JAM' (Epact #120) The young Vermont-born dance fiddler, mandolinist and tunesmith Oliver Scanlon has made a name for himself with the youth contradance band THE IRREGULARS ('Waiting For Wisdom' / Epact #118), as well as with PETE SUTHERLAND and PETE'S POSSE and most recently as the youngest member of the long-running 'contradance jam band' THE CLAYFOOT STRUTTERS ('Going Elsewhere' / Epact#106). Now at the age of eighteen he has a project all his own. 'THE POND JAM' is a collection of tunes in the traditional style, many of them originals. Scanlon's smooth fiddle and 'grassy' mandolin picking lead the way, but he has ample support from members of the Posse and the Irregulars as well as local Bluegrass pickers, long-distance guests DAVID SURETTE and GREY LARSEN and more. From the unstoppable drive of the ancient 'Money Musk' to the gentle swing of his own 'Joan's Waltz', the CD hits a wide variety of moods. Scanlon also takes a turn as singer and songwriter on 'Power to Be Reckoned With' and leads a family gospel quartet through 'Gonna be Movin'' to close out the album. Long-time mentor, co-producer and colleague Sutherland says of Scanlon's music: 'Oliver is one of those unique musical beings, a truly 'natural' player. He caught fire early on, and continues to develop a style that is fluid, technically dead-on and full of expression beyond his years.'