News Release

Annapolis Maritime Museum / 723 Second St / Annapolis, MD 21403
Contacts: Jeff Holland / 410 295-0104 / director@amaritime.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 24, 2008

OCEAN Quartette & Caryl Weiss to perform
at Annapolis Maritime Museum’s Summertime Maritime Concert Series

The OCEAN Quartette will perform their inspiringly original renditions of traditional maritime music at the Annapolis Maritime Museum’s free Summertime Maritime Concert series on Wednesday, July 2, at the museum campus in Eastport, and Annapolis maritime folk musician Caryl Weiss will perform at noon on Thursday, July 3, at Annapolis City Dock.

With their soaring Celtic vocals and high-energy instrumentals (button accordion, fiddle, guitar and keyboard), the four-woman OCEAN Quartette offers their audience “the softer side of sea music.” Jennifer Cutting, Grace Griffith, Lisa Moscatiello, and Cheryl Hurwitz are internationally known, collectively and solo, for their goosebump-raising performances and surprise-filled repertoire. For her most recent album (OCEAN: Songs for the Night Sea Journey, released in 2005) composer and ethnomusicologist Jennifer Cutting culled through the Archive of Folk Culture at the Library of Congress to find a body of nautically inspired ballads and tunes, and transformed them into an ethereal banquet unlike anything in the “traditional” sea music canon. Think sirens. Think mermaids. Think maidens awaiting their sea-borne sailors. Woven into the mix is some of Cutting’s original material, which celebrates the rich symbolism, mythology, and mystery of the sea. The Washington Post called OCEAN “Nothing short of spellbinding…”

The Wednesday concert begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is located at 723 Second Street on the banks of Back Creek. Beer and wine are available for a nominal donation.

The music starts up again on Thursday at noon at the Annapolis City Dock, with the Annapolis maritime folk artist Cary Weiss performing during the lunch hour from the deck of the Lydia D, a small skipjack owned by the Museum. Again admission is free; the audience is welcome to bring seating.

Lifelong musician and veteran of the international folk scene, Caryl Weiss burst on the Annapolis stage a decade ago, brimming with enthusiasm about the Chesapeake Bay, its traditions and its people. Adding to a repertoire already teeming with ballads meticulously collected from both sides of the Atlantic, she began penning songs about the Annapolis waterfront and the Bay beyond. An avid “chantey ma’am,” as she calls herself, she has shared her Sea Shanties 101 program at maritime museums throughout the Chesapeake watershed. Her deep and abiding love for the water and maritime traditions shines as clear as her voice; she backs herself up with banjo, guitar and concertina (but not all at once).

The museum’s summer concert series has won an award for Best Heritage Event by Four Rivers, the Heritage Area of Annapolis, London Town and South County, and one concert has been featured on the NBC Today Show. The series is made possible by generous support of the members of the Annapolis Maritime Museum, the City of Annapolis, City of Annapolis Department of Economic Development, Four Rivers Heritage Area, the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, the Maryland State Arts Council, Weems & Plath, Davis’ Pub, Anston House Press, and other supporters.

For a complete schedule of performers, additional information and directions, see the Museum web site at www.annapolismaritimemuseum.org.

Upcoming concerts:

July 9/10 - Tom Wisner

Tom Wisner, the “guru” of Chesapeake Bay folk music, is a singer, songwriter, and educator from the Patuxent River watershed. Since the 1960s, Wisner has pioneered the use of original songs and stories to heighten awareness of the national treasure known as the Chesapeake Bay. His masterpiece, “Chesapeake Born,” inspired a National Geographic Special documentary. His first three albums are part of the National Smithsonian Folkways collection. He was a featured entertainer at the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival in 2004 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

July 16/17 - Bob Zentz

Bob Zentz, a singer, songwriter, and storyteller from Norfolk, Virginia, has five recordings of traditional and original songs. His Chesapeake Bay songs like “This Old Bay” and “The Last Skipjack” have become true classics that have been included in a number of anthologies. He was featured in the 2004 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and performs concerts and educational programs throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Bob takes time to tell the stories behind the songs, and he accompanies his rich baritone voice with dozens of ‘unplugged’ folk instruments. One minute he’ll be singing an original ditty about his experiences on the Bay, the next he’ll throw in a traditional Celtic tune, a ballad or a sea chantey, and then he’ll recite poetry set to his own special brand of music.

July 23 - Them Eastport Oyster Boys and Scurvy Crew

For the past decade, Them Eastport Oyster Boys, the duo of Jefferson Holland and Kevin Brooks has been delighting audiences throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed with their irrepressible brand of humorous tunes inspired by living in a community where the best things in life are a “good hat, a good dog and a good boat.” Their original songs, all inspired by the Bay, swing from island rhythms to “Country/Western Shore,” some poking fun at stinkpotters, others paying homage to the plight of the waterman. In his “day job,” Jeff works as the director of the Annapolis Maritime Museum. Kevin Brooks volunteers on the Museum’s Board of Directors. They contribute their time and talents to the Museum for this concert series. Scurvy Crew is made up of young people from Southern Maryland who might tell you they were kidnapped by pirates at a tender age and learned their singing from the folks in the fo’castle. True or not, the Scurvy Crew has been singing sea songs for several years now, entertaining audiences with their lively performances and colorful costumes. Ranging from traditional work songs to hilarious “chantey neuveaux”, the group’s material can be saucy or somber, but is always spirited.

July 24 - Scurvy Crew

A delightful bunch of young people from Southern Maryland, the Scurvy Crew has been singing sea songs for several years now, entertaining audiences with their lively performances and colorful costumes. Ranging from traditional work songs to hilarious “chantey neuveaux”, the group’s material can be saucy or somber, but is always spirited.

July 30/31 - Calico Jack

Calico Jack is actually the dynamic folk duo of Janie Meneely and Paul DiBlasi, whose new album “You Don’t Know Jack” was released this spring. Singer/songwriter Janie Meneely delves deep into the well of Chesapeake lore to produce songs evocative of the waterman’s way of life, featuring Bay characters, places and history. Her nautically inspired tunes have been recorded by artists throughout the country. Paul DiBlasi adds a vast repertoire of classic work songs to the group along with a flair for the guitar. “Sometimes sober, sometimes saucy, they slide easily between old and new,” says Annapolis Maritime Museum Director Jeff Holland. Janie's strong regional roots have led her to develop a hefty list of Bay-inspired songs, but her ditties are just as apt to poke fun at time-honored traditions. Paul's mastery of classic sea chanteys will have an audience singing along in no time. Their voices blend together beautifully.” Calico Jack released its first CD of Bay music, “The Oyster Wife,” in 2006.

August 6/7 - Mack Bailey

Nationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Mack Bailey is Mack Bailey is no stranger to Annapolis audiences. Many remember his vibrant solo performances on area stages and his countless appearances with the Hard Travelers. These days he’s also performing nationally with The Limeliters and with members of the original John Denver band in “A Musical Tribute to John Denver.” He’s shared the stage with the likes of Randy Travis, Barbara Mandrell, Emmylou Harris, Chet Atkins, Tom Paxton and more. Along the way he’s managed to produce eight solo albums. His smooth tenor voice continues to win fans whenever he sings, and his impressive range of original songs touch the hearts of his listeners and tickle their funny bone.

August 13/14 - Geoff Kaufman

For the past 28 years, Geoff Kaufman has been leading audiences to find truth, humor and beauty in folk music. Whether he’s singing sailor songs with his quartet, Forebitter, or environmental songs on board the Sloop Clearwater in the Hudson River; or in solo performances at coffeehouses throughout the northeast United States and festivals in Europe, Geoff has entertained and touched audiences near and far. Songs of the sea, songs of the earth, songs of the heart and the spirit—all of these are in Geoff Kaufman’s ditty bag and are likely to be woven into one of Geoff’s concerts. And he is sure to invite the audience to sing along.

August 20 - Chester River Run-Off

Chester River Runoff plays music that is continuously evolving from their inception in the fall of 2004 when four young musicians from divergent musical backgrounds decided to master the driving bluegrass that they all had loved. Together they have established a country bluegrass sound that echoes in the wide open spaces of the Chesapeake, carrying it to venues and radio airwaves across the region. They have grown from a small-town string band that relied more on humor than prowess, to a dynamic bluegrass band. With a confluence of styles and interests that flow together, they continue to develop a style that is all their own. High energy shows, and their ability to connect with an audience through sincere originals and unique takes on traditional music make a CRR concert a memorable experience.

August 21 - Don Shappelle

Don Shappelle, singer/songwriter from the Susquehanna river shed, sings songs inspired by the beauty and history of the Susquehanna, the people, boats and places of the mighty river that flows into the Chesapeake Bay. “Listening to him singing from aboard a traditional Chesapeake Bay workboat is an especially appropriate setting for his body of work,” explains Annapolis Maritime Museum Director Jeff Holland. He will perform solo for the Thursday noon concert.

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Note to editors: Photos are available, please contact Jeff Holland.

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