PHOTOS

SHOW DESCRIPTION (Tag line)

Fiddling With Traditions -A musical, multimedia exploration into the enchanting world of handcrafted folk arts.

SHOW DESCRIPTION (Short)

Fiddling With Traditions is a fun, imaginative, multimedia concert that features fiddler/tunesmith Gretchen Koehler & pianist Daniel Kelly sharing fiddle tunes that evoke everything from sweeping paint strokes, to intricate stitching, to the fiery forging of Northern NY's folk traditions. From heart pumping musical arrangements to peaceful panoramas, their expressive soundscapes capture the spirit of rug braiding, blacksmithing, quilting, silversmithing, paper making, knitting, painting and woodworking. Audiences of all ages will enjoy this captivating musical adventure enhanced by a backdrop of gorgeous film and images.

SHOW DESCRIPTION (Long)

In 2022, fiddler Gretchen Koehler immersed herself in "North Country" folk arts. She interviewed a variety of artists to learn about their traditions, study their hands, soak up the aesthetic of being in their creative environment and then adapted these ideas to her family's music tradition. From these sessions came a brilliant new fiddle suite, Fiddling With Traditions.

Fiddling With Traditions is a fun, imaginative, muti-media concert that features fiddler/composer Gretchen Koehler & pianist Daniel Kelly sharing fiddle tunes that evoke everything from sweeping paint strokes, to intricate stitching, to the fiery forging of Northern NY's folk traditions. From heart pumping musical arrangements to peaceful panoramas, their expressive soundscapes capture the spirit of rug braiding, blacksmithing, quilting, silversmithing, paper making, knitting, painting and woodworking, ice harvesting and more. Audiences of all ages will enjoy this captivating musical adventure enhanced by a backdrop of gorgeous film and images.

BIOS SHORT (short)

Fiddler Gretchen Koehler and jazz pianist Daniel Kelly blend the raw energy of dance fiddling with the lyricism and improvisation of jazz. "Masterful," writes Fiddler Magazine of the duo's dynamic sound. Koehler, a champion fiddler and Fiddlers' Hall of Fame inductee, is fluent in over a dozen distinct fiddle styles. Kelly, a U.S. State Department Jazz Ambassador, has brought his depth of knowledge of American jazz to audiences around the world. Together, Koehler & Kelly spark an innovative musical conversation while celebrating their deep respect for folk traditions. Their bold approach has caught the attention of the folk music establishment, and they were featured on NPR's "Thistle & Shamrock." www.gretchenkoehlermusic.com

BIOS (LONG)

Fiddler Gretchen Koehler and jazz pianist Daniel Kelly blend the raw energy of traditional fiddling with the lyricism and improvisation of jazz. "Masterful," writes Fiddler Magazine of the duo's dynamic sound. Koehler, a champion fiddler and Fiddlers' Hall of Fame inductee, is fluent in over a dozen distinct fiddle styles. Kelly, a U.S. State Department Jazz Ambassador, has brought his depth of knowledge of American jazz to audiences around the world. Together, Koehler & Kelly spark an innovative musical conversation while celebrating their deep respect for folk traditions. Their bold approach has caught the attention of the folk music establishment, and they were featured on NPR's "The Thistle & Shamrock" showcasing the best new sounds. 

 Gretchen Koehler grew up in New England surrounded by the rich traditions of Old Time fiddle and Contra Dance music. As a teen, she established her reputation throughout the US and Canada, winning numerous fiddle championships, prompting TIME Magazine to call Koehler "astonishingly good." In 2012 she was inducted into the North American Fiddlers' Hall of Fame (NY State rep.) and most recently Fiddler Magazine labeled her one of the futures of Celtic fiddle. www.GretchenKoehlerMusic.com

Daniel Kelly is an award-winning pianist and composer who blends jazz, classical and folk music into a signature sound. He has been declared "powerfully moving" by Time Out New York, and has performed with jazz legends Michael Brecker and Joe Lovano, hip-hop star Lauryn Hill, and modern classical giants the Bang on a Can All-Stars. He has toured throughout Southeast Asia and India as part of the Kennedy Center and US State department-sponsored Jazz Ambassador program. www.DanielKellyMusic.com

PRAISE

• "Best New Sounds." -Thistle & Shamrock, NPR

• "Masterful," -Fiddler Magazine.

• “Extraordinary! There aren’t words to describe this superb multimedia, multi-faceted arts experience!”

• “Astonishing. The show thi duo has put together is exquisite. I am blown away by the sheer creativity.”

VIDEOS

MUSIC VIDEOS

To see the 8 part, Fiddling With Traditions Music Video series featuring individual artists, visit Gretchen Koehler Music Youtube.

FIDDLING WITH TRADITIONS -commerical for venue

Gretchen Koehler will edit a commerical specifically for your venue. Ask for more details.