Vermont  accordionist Jeremiah McLane and Seattle fiddler Ruthie Dornfeld are each superb musicians with a warm rapport that comes from 15 years of playing together throughout the United States, Canada, and France. Their repertoire is French -  ancient bourrées of the Auvergne, gavottes from Brittany, rigadoons from the Alps, and jazz-inspired musette waltzes from Paris – as well as a few Quebecois tunes and originals.  The French music magazine, Trad Mag, honored their CD, Hummingbird, with a BRAVO award.  With their love for traditional music, adventurous spirit and passionate playing, this duo is not to be missed.

“The chemistry is magic…”  - Trad Magazine

“McLane and Dornfeld are at the top of their game.” - Sing Out

“Jeremiah McLane and Ruthie Dornfeld are an incredible blend of energy, musicianship, and writing talent.” – Victory Review

  Accordionist/pianist/composer Jeremiah McLane was born and raised in Hanover, New Hampshire and now resides in Sharon, Vermont. His exuberant, expressive, and inventive playing reflects a background that includes both traditional Celtic and American dance music and jazz. He is a founding member of Nightingale and The Clayfoot Strutters, both pivotal and popular bands with traditional roots.  Jeremiah’s second solo recording, Smile When You’re Ready, was nominated by National Public Radio in their “favorite picks” of 1996.  His musical contributions can be heard on over thirty five albums, including Jay Ungar and Molly Mason’s Harvest Home.  He has composed music for theatre and film, including Sam Shepard’s A Lie of the Mind, and received numerous grants and awards including the Ontario Center for the Performing Arts “Meet the composer” Award, and the Vermont Council on the Arts “Creation of New Work” grant.  Jeremiah, besides his duo with Ruthie, performs with The Clayfoot Strutters, Nightingale,  Le Bon Vent and James Falzone.   More info is available at www.jeremiahmclane.com  

 

Fiddler Ruthie Dornfeld hails from Oregon, and lived in New England for 15 years. In Boston she was a mainstay in the contra dance scene, studied jazz at Berklee College of Music, was a member of the twin-fiddle stringband The Poodles, and often traversed the Atlantic to play with The American Café Orchestra. She also met Jeremiah then, and with the happy discovery that they shared many of the same eclectic musical passions, they began their collaboration. In 1996 Ruthie returned to the Northwest, to Seattle, where she currently plays with guitar master John Miller, the French cabaret band Rouge, and with early musician Shula Kleinerman. She is also a member of Le Bon Vent. Besides playing the fiddle, Ruthie has recently taken up the vielle (a 5-string medieval violin), and in 2008 won a GAP grant to compose music for it. She also received a 2009 Jack Straw ASP grant to record this music, and this summer will be busy working on the project.  More info is available  at www.ruthiedornfeld.com