Highlight: German-American Traditions
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Highlight: Dominican-American TraditionsPlease also check out this year's Singer/Songwriter Showcase winners!
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Jim Albertson has been contributing to the New Jersey Folk Festival since the very first festival in 1975. He served as an emcee for the first fourteen years of the festival and has received the festival’s Lifetime Achievement award for his service to folk music and New Jersey culture. Jim was appointed the first president of the New Jersey Folklore Society in 1980, for his expertise in South Jersey traditions. In 1985, he released an album called “Down Jersey” on the Smithsonian Institution’s Folkways label. Known for both his storytelling and his singing, Jim was born in Atlantic City, and grew up in the surrounding area. In addition to being a folk performer, Jim has been a teacher of the speech arts, oral interpretation, and also an actor and director for community theater projects. 
Multi-instrumentalist, composer, and ethnomusicologist Paul Austerlitz combines his academic specialization in Afro-Caribbean music with his creative work as a jazz musician. He is a master of the bass and contrabass clarinets, and also plays soprano clarinet and tenor saxophone. Particularly influenced by the music of the Dominican Republic, Paul has released several albums imbued with Dominican and other flavors with artists from across North America and the Caribbean. Paul has studied with Bill Dixon, Milford Graves, Dave Liebman, and Frank Weiss. He received his PhD in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University in 1993 and has published several books, including Jazz Consciousness: Music, Race, and Humanity and Merengue: Dominican Music and Dominican Identity. [
For nearly thirty years, the Bluegrass & Old Time Music Association has worked to preserve and perpetuate both bluegrass and old time music through bringing together musicians of all ages and skill levels for concerts and open jam sessions. From September through May, they sponsor a stage show and jam session every third Sunday in Little Silver, New Jersey. In the summer, the organization holds Pickin' in the Park, a series of jam sessions at Thompson County Park in Lincroft. [
Alianza Dominicana, Inc.'s Conjunto Folkorico is a group of forty youths aged five to twenty-six who are learning Dominican folk dance, carnival, ring games and other popular expressive traditions. The Conjunto trains in and performs traditional social dances, including Merengue, Pambiche, Valse, Polka, Mazurka, Chivo Samanés, Sarambo, and Merengue Redondo. The group also covers sacred or semi-sacred dances: Salves (the altar music of saints' festivals) and Palos (a long-drum dance) as well as regional variants of Palos, such as the Congos of Villa Mella and the Sarandunga of Baní. Not only do they dance and perform, the Conjunto also receives instruction in Dominican cultural history as manifested through its traditional music and dance, an overview of folk and popular music and dance, and methodology for field research. [
The compositions of Roger Deitz, a musician and writer with acerbic wit, have a traditional flavor which fits with other songs of the folk legacy. Playing primarily guitar and banjo, Roger has performed and hosted at various venues, including repeat performances at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Long Island Folk Festival, the World Hungerthon concerts, and, of course, the New Jersey Folk Festival. Among the most knowledgeable folk music writers in the United States, Roger has written the book The Folk Music Chronicles, and is also a regular contributor to such publications as Billboard, Sing Out!, and Acoustic Guitar. [
Comprised of talented harpers, many of whom have won at major competitions in New York City and Ireland, the Delaware Valley Celtic Harp Orchestra has performed at venues and cultural events throughout the area, including the Cumberland County College Performing Arts Center, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts in Dover and at the Philadelphia Céilí Group Irish Music and Dance Festival. Organizer Kathy DeAngelo, the first music director of the New Jersey Folk Festival, has helped the group build a large and varied repertoire of traditional Irish and Scottish dance music, classic Irish harp pieces, and songs in both Irish and English. A band of harpers that delivers tradition with no shortage of vivacity, the Delaware Valley Celtic Harp Orchestra is a group sure to please. [
The Goodman family, a mother-daughter trio from Ridgewood, New Jersey, performs traditional Irish music. Mother, Eileen Clune-Goodman began playing traditional Irish music as a child in the 70’s in a New Jersey household with close ties to County Clare and its music. As an adult, Eileen has passed her love of this music to her daughters, Meagan and Siobhan, as well as her many students. Also, she is the leader of the Green Gates Céilí Band, a tri-state area band experienced in the céilí, which is the traditional Gaelic social dance. Eileen’s daughters are 16-year-old Meagan who plays fiddle in the Sligo style and 13- year-old Siobhan who provides piano accompaniment for the group. Both daughters have competed and won in various competitions, including North American Championships that qualify traditional musicians to compete in the Fleadh Cheoil Na hÉireann, the ‘Olympics’ of Irish Music. Both have traveled to Ireland to compete internationally in various individual and group-level competitions. Both are members of Ceol na nÓg (Music of the Young), a teenage band that performs regularly at sessions in the NJ/NY area.
Straight from Sweden, this duo of certified Swedish tradition bearers, or Riksspelmän, perform the vibrant and elegant music of the nyckelharpa. Nyckelharpa is the traditional Swedish keyed string instrument. Structured and bowed somewhat like a violin, this instrument has 16 strings, 12 of which are sympathetic strings used to amplify and enrich the tone. In addition to nyckelharpa, Edward also plays violin. Both Elin and Edward work as musicians and teachers and have held workshops, dances, and concerts across Sweden, Canada, and the United States. [
A Highland bagpiper, Frank has competed successfully as both a solo performer and with bands. Frank has piped both at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia and at Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden in New York City. He holds a PhD from Drew University and is a student of the late Robert Gilchrist. Frank and his son will open the festival this year, as they have for several years, with a march through the festival grounds.
With a reputation for intimate performances and interactive fun, Spook’s songs range from the spiritual to the political. Describing Spook’s music is not easy. The lyrical wit of John Prine, the humor of Arlo Guthrie, the sincerity of John Denver, the boldness of Bob Dylan, and the courage of Pete Seeger emerge as a cohesive sound full of hope and promise. Spook has won several awards for his music and has performed at many prestigious folk festivals across the country. Known for always expressing his values through his work, he recently composed the score for a theatrical adaptation of Pete Seeger’s children’s story “Abiyoyo,” promoting diversity, tolerance, and acceptance. Be prepared to have fun and sing along at Spook’s concerts. [
Latin Heat, a cultural club based out of North Brunswick High School, has an active role in the Latin community of North Brunswick and the surrounding area. In addition to its dance group, the club also promotes diversity issues and increases awareness of their culture. In existence for almost six years, the dance group boasts ten student members, while the organization as a whole has over one hundred students. The Latin Heat Dance Group has mainly focused on more modern dances, but is learning traditional dances, too. Rosita Hamilton and Rachel Darge, the club’s advisors, have organized activities where they helped Spanish speakers register to vote and translate materials for parents and teachers in need of their assistance. The dance group has performed on heritage days and cultural pep rallies in the North Brunswick area.
Kathleen McCool has been associated with the Celtic folk harp community in New Jersey since 1997. It was then that she began to study the folk harp and realized its importance in Celtic cultures. She found a connection to her Irish ancestry through the harp and Irish traditional music, much of which is derived from ancient harp tunes. In the year 2000, Kathleen became a deejay for The Voice of Ireland, an Irish music show at WRSU-FM, in New Brunswick. The show allows her to share her passion for Irish folk music with the community. She has interviewed Irish musicians on-air, and keeps her listeners current on Celtic musical events in the area. She has written for the Harp Column, and is an officer of the Jersey Shore Harp Ensemble. Kathleen has served as an emcee at the Somerset Folk Harp Festival, and is honored to be invited to participate in the NJ Folk Festival this year. 
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Minister Keia Story later moved to Merchantville, New Jersey. A well-known minister and psalmist in the Delaware Valley, she formed Call to Worship over eighteen years ago. Currently, the members include Bernadette “Tammy” Story, Yolanda Story and Tracey Smith. Minister Story and the Call to Worship love spreading the message of Christ through song wherever they travel. This talented group has opened for such gospel heavy weights as Commission and John P. Kee and the New Life Community Choir.
Mountain Heritage is a traditional bluegrass band playing both original material and bluegrass standards with members hailing from the Delaware Valley region of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The musically gifted members of Mountain Heritage include Tim Scheetz, Mike Terris, Matt Koch, Bruce Rupert, and NJFF alumnus Dan O'Dea. They are now in their fourth year with the same configuration. They have played at such festivals as the Bethlehem Musikfest and the AFBA Bluegrass Fest in Wind Gap, PA. Mountain Heritage's media appearances have included television broadcasts on Comcast CN8 as well as live radio performances on WDVR Sergeantsville, NJ and WXLV Schnecksville, PA. [
Dan O'Dea, an NJFF alumnus, is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist from Highland Park, NJ. He plays fiddle, mandolin, flat-picking guitar, banjo, and stand-up bass, in addition to singing lead and harmony vocals. Dan can be found playing with Mountain Heritage, a soulful bluegrass band from Eastern Pennsylvania; The Beth Coleman Band, a large format bluegrass band from the Skylands region of New Jersey that includes some of the area's finest pickers; Vincent Cross and Good Company, a new bluegrass band based out of Brooklyn; and Beyond, an acoustic trio that performs many different styles of music including jazz, Latin, gypsy, swing, rock, blues, and traditional forms. A former member of New Brunswick bluegrass band The Otters, Dan has jammed on stage with Clarence Clemmons (E Street Band), Jason Hahn from String Cheese Incident, Vinx (Taj Mahal, Sting), members of Railroad Earth, and has been billed with Dickey Betts (Allman Bros), Levon Helm (The Band), The Wailers, and the Del McCoury Band. O'Dea has also performed live on WKCR-FM New York and WDIY-FM Bethlehem, PA. [
Mr. Rafferty grew up in Ballinakill, East Galway in the heart of a locality steeped in the very best of old-style traditional music. Mike is an outstanding exponent of the East Galway style of flute playing. Mike immigrated to the United States in 1949 and has appeared at an extensive array of concerts and festivals all over America including the Smithsonian Institution’s Bicentennial Festival of American Folklife in 1976 and toured with the Green Fields of America. Mike has appeared on many recordings and has recorded three albums with his daughter Mary; The Dangerous Reel, The Old Fireside Music, The Road from Ballinakill and most recently his solo CD Speed 78. Mr. Rafferty has received several awards from various organizations for his contributions to traditional Irish music: In 2003 he was named Irish Echo's Traditional Musician of the Year. Recently, he has been inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Mid-Atlantic Region Comhaltas Ceoltóirí, recognized by New York University, Kerry Men's Association of New York, Galway Men's Association of New York and in Bogota, New Jersey, the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) named themselves "The Michael Rafferty Branch of CCÉ”. [
Reed Island Rounders, consisting of Billy Cornette (guitar), Betty Vornbrock (fiddle) and Diane Jones (banjo, dulcimer), have been playing together for over fourteen years. The trio has found a mutual love for the Old-Time music of West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and southwest Virginia, where Billy and Betty live. The band performs regionally and even internationally for square dances, contra dances, concerts, festivals, workshops, and private engagements. From the foot-stomping dance tunes of the Blue Ridge to the lonesome mountain tunes of a solo fiddle or duet with the banjo, Reed Island Rounders evoke the soul of Appalachian life. They released their newest recording, Hand Me Downs, last summer. [
Scarlet Mambo is a young and charismatic dance company that focuses in teaching and performing Salsa music. The group is the product of years of dancing mainly in the Rutgers community, as most of its members are Rutgers graduates. Scarlet Mambo started teaching salsa classes officially in September of 2006 with Dany Flores as head instructor and choreographer, and Camila Danielle as an assistant instructor and choreographer. In 1998, Dany started salsa training "On One" at Rutgers University. For the last few years, Dany has enjoyed dancing "On Two" mainly, but his experience allows him to easily and solidly dance on both styles. Dancing "on Two" means that the break step synchronizes with the accented slap of the tumbao pattern played on the conga drum. For this reason, it is said to be more punchy and rhythmically oriented, whereas “on One” is more melodically oriented. Dany and Camila have been instructors at the RU Salsa Club since 2003. They also teach classes, where one can walk-in and join anytime. [
The Stony Brook Friends of Old-Time Music consists of musicians from all parts of New Jersey and the surrounding states. The group consists of people from all different backgrounds who share a common interest in Old-Time music. They meet for a jamming session the 1st and 3rd Tuesday evening of every month at Mannion’s Pub located in Somerville, New Jersey. They welcome anyone who has a passion for Old-Time music to join them at their jam sessions. [
The Traditional Irish Music Seisiún at the 3 Beans Coffeehouse in Haddonfield, New Jersey is probably the longest continuously running session in the state. Founded 17 years ago and anchored by Kathy DeAngelo and Dennis Gormley, musicians from all over the Delaware Valley meet from 8-10pm every Thursday night. Well known touring Irish musicians often drop by for a night of tunes. Sparking more interest over the years, the session has only one requirement: the love of the music. The coffeehouse is located at 140 Haddon Avenue. The 1st Thursday is a regular session while all other Thursdays are “round robin” style. [
Yaya is a women’s collective dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich cultural legacies and African-based musical traditions of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Founded in 2002, Yaya honors the vibrant musical heritage represented in Puerto Rican bomba and Dominican salve traditions through live performance, workshops and female-led creative ciphers. Recognizing the contributions of women in preserving and transmitting these traditions, Yaya honors the yayas (a word of Creole/Kongo origin), or “mothers”, who have helped shape our histories, traditions and legacies of resistance. They recently have performed at the Tribute to Women Leaders held at the Venezuelan Consulate in New York City and the BomPlenazo, an Afro-Puerto Rican Music Festival in Bronx, New York. They have led several group workshops concerning Afro-Dominican Salve Song and Instrumentation as well as the Roots of Bomba, Salve Percussion and Chants.