This week on the Chenango Sessions, we revisit an 8 July 2019 performance by the Boston-based quartet, Corner House. The band was traveling from Rochester to Lancaster, and stopped through Binghamton for the night. We recorded this set after breakfast around a single mic in my living room. There’s nothing quite like sitting in the rocking chair and drinking morning coffee while Louise Bichan (fiddle and banjo), Ethan Hawkins (guitar and voice), Casey Murray (cello), and Ethan Setiawan (mandolin) weave their exquisite Irish-Scottish-Appalachian-Bluegrass influenced tunes a couple feet away. I’m so pleased to be able to share the fruits of that lovely morning with you!

This week, we revisit a 2019 performance from the great British songwriter, Jez Lowe. Jez released his first recording in 1980, and has been performing throughout the world ever since, including with his bands, the Bad Pennies, the Pitmen Poets, the Broonzies, Men at Words, and an ongoing collaboration with the BBC, called the "Radio Ballads". I recorded this solo performance with Jez at Binghamton's Cranberry Coffeehouse.

This week, we'll hear an encore performance from Lindsay McCaw and Aaron Jonah Lewis of the Corn Potato String Band, from Detroit, Michigan. I recorded Lindsay and Aaron when they stopped through Binghamton for a living room show in September of 2018. They're both award-winning multi-instrumentalists, and their set today will include a variety of American traditional, comedy, gospel, and classic banjo music.

This week, I'm sharing a performance from Charlie Parr, which was recorded without an audience at Duluth Cider in Duluth, Minnesota. Charlie's been traveling and singing throughout the world since the nineteen eighties. He has at least 16 albums to his credit, and keeps on making more. This recording is from his second livestream show of the pandemic, and was mixed by Tim Leutgeb.

Coming to us this week from Cortland, New York, is the singer-songwriter Chris Merkley of the bands Merkley & Morgan, Digger Jones, and the Crooners. Chris has been hosting live stream concerts featuring regional musicians at Cortland's Rose Hall during the pandemic. It's a beautiful old church with a large sanctuary venue, and an intimate stage in the basement. That's where I set up some mics and recorded the songs we'll hear today.

Mallory Graham and Scott Taylor of the Rough and Tumble record a few of the songs from their brand new album for us from their home. The album is called "Be Good Little Children: the Lullafrights, Volume One".

Then we hear from the Folias Duo, which is flutist Carmen Maret and guitarist Andrew Bergeron. They're coming to us from their sun porch in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

This week and next, I'm sharing recordings from the 2020 South Haven Jazz Festival, in South Haven, Michigan. Most of the performances were virtual, on account of the pandemic. We start with a few tunes from Ashley and Benje Daneman, followed by a set from Edye Evans Hyde, and close out the program with the Jim Cooper Quartet.

Last week and this week, I'm sharing recordings from the 2020 South Haven Jazz Fest, in South Haven, Michigan. Most of the performances were virtual, on account of the pandemic. We'll start with the Ivan Akansiima Trio, followed by a set from saxophonist Derek Brown, and close out the show with a couple pieces from the Blue Shoes Jazz Ensemble. -- www.ivanakansiima.com | www.derekbrownsax.com | www.blueshoesjazz.com 

This week, I'm sharing a home concert from the American traditional musician, Bruce Molsky. Bruce made this recording from his home in Beacon, New York, in April of 2020, about a month into the New York's lockdown. This show was originally presented by our friends at Signature Sounds in Northampton, Massachusetts, as part of their Parlor Room Home Sessions. -- www.brucemolsky.com | www.signaturesounds.com

Our guests this week include the Orchestra That Fell to Earth (ex-Penguin Cafe Orchestra), Jennifer Maidman & Annie Whitehead, and Steven Hobert.

The ORCHESTRA THAT FELL TO EARTH features four original members of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra (Jennifer Maidman, Annie Whitehead, Geoffrey Richardson, Steve Fletcher), with percussionist Liam Genockey of Steeleye Span.

Besides the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, JENNIFER MAIDMAN is probably best known for her longtime collaboration with Boy George and Bobby Z. She recorded Marc Bolan's 1976 single, "I Love to Boogie", and is featured on hundreds of albums and many international hits. ANNIE WHITEHEAD is one of the world's top session trombonists and horn arrangers, Like Jennifer, she can be heard on dozens of international hits. Whitehead is also acclaimed for her solo work, and for her ensembles: the Dance, and the Annie Whitehead Experience. Annie and Jennifer come to us from their home in South East England.

STEVEN HOBERT is an improvisational jazz pianist and composer who made his mark in the Minneapolis area before returning to his home state of Wisconsin. He is a former pianist for the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and has been a guest soloist with the Calgary, Detroit, and Buffalo Symphony Orchestras. Besides his solo work, Hobert's ensemble projects include FireFlyForest, Oudyano, and the Wall Smashers.

This week on the Chenango Sessions, we visit with the Japanese guitarist, composer, and singer-songwriter Hiroya Tsukamoto, who recorded a set of songs and stories for us from his home. Then, at the end of the show, we hear a few songs for the Christmas season from April Verch and Joe Newberry. -- http://hiroyatsukamoto.com | http://aprilverch.com | http://joenewberry.me

This week, we revisit a performance with Robin Bullock, who was a founding member of the innovative acoustic world-music trio, Helicon. Robins a master and teacher of the guitar, cittern, and mandolin. He lives outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Robin joined us at Binghamtons long-running folk music venue, the Cranberry Coffeehouse, in February of 2020, and I recorded that show for you. So find a comfy spot on the couch, sit back, relax, and please join me for next hour as we welcome Robin Bullock to the Chenango Sessions. -- http://robinbullock.com

We're back with the one hundredth episode of the Chenango Sessions. Every week for the past two years, I've shared recordings of world class musicians recorded live in small rooms. So find a comfy spot on the couch, sit back, relax, and please join me for next hour as we listen to a grab bag of recordings from one hundred episodes of the Chenango Sessions.

Today's guest is the GRAMMY award winning string quartet, ETHEL, featuring music from their brand new high-definition audio and video production, the "Signature Sessions". ETHEL is Ralph Farris on viola, cellist Dorothy Lawson, and violinists Corin Lee and Kip Jones. I sit down with them to discuss their upcoming May 27 world-premiere of the Signature Sessions, National Chamber Music Month, their recordings of compositions by young Native American composers, and much more.

The Signature Sessions were recorded during the pandemic, after being apart for six months. They capture high-definition musical and video recordings of ETHEL performing beloved music from their dynamic vault of programs, including "Circus: Wandering City", "The River", "Blue Dress", and more. The Signature Sessions were produced and directed by EMMY and Telly award-winning media producer, Molly McBride.

To celebrate the 10th annual National Chamber Music Month, the Grand Theater of Wausau, Wisconsin, will present the world premier of ETHEL's Signature Sessions as a ticketed, online streaming event at 7:30 p.m. on May 27. Tickets are free, but advance reservations are required.

So find a comfy spot on the couch, sit back, relax, and please join me for the next hour as we welcome ETHEL to the Chenango Sessions. -- http://ethelcentral.org | http://grandtheater.org