Highlight: German-American Traditions
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NJFF Archive |
Artists and Performers |
Jim Albertson
Bayern Verein Newark Dance Group
Bernie's Orchestra
Bluegrass Old Time Music AssociationFor 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. http://www.newjerseybluegrass.org/ Gwendolyn Briley-Strand
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Jim Albertson has been contributing to the New Jersey Folk Festival since its very first year in 1975. He
served as 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 elected 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.
Formed from a small group of Bavarian immigrants in the fall of 1930, Bayern Verein Newark hoped
to foster Bavarian traditions in their new homeland. Since the days when the club was but a small
group of Bavarians who had come to the United States in search of their dreams, many traditions have
evolved that honor the customs of the group’s homeland. The group hosts many events throughout
the year, including the annual Stiftungsfest, a night of dancing, laughter, and celebration, as well as
a traditional Oktoberfest. BVN has also made several trips to Germany to participate in traditional
Bavarian activities such as Oktoberfest and dance competitions. The club works hard to foster and
nurture Bavarian traditions within the framework of its new homeland.
Bernie’s Orchestra was officially formed in 1967 with three young musicians who wanted to perform
German-American dance music. As the times have changed, so has the band, which has moved on from the
three original musicians to a talented and diversified five-piece ensemble. The melodious sounds that they
create are a combination of accordion, percussion, guitar, trumpet, trombone, saxophone (soprano, alto,
and tenor), clarinet, flute, baritone horn, alpine horn, and vocals. In addition to performing, the band has
recorded several albums. In 1979, Wunschkonzert was produced, followed by Blowin’ the House Down four
years later.
Gwendolyn Briley-Strand is originally from Mount Vernon, New York. She has been delighting audiences on
stage, radio, television and in movie theaters for over twenty years. Gwendolyn Briley-Strand is the founder,
President and CEO of See The Fruits Inc., a company which uses the Arts to teach American History. Gwendolyn
Briley-Strand has been touring her one-woman show Harriet Tubman: The Chosen One, since 1993. The
Chosen One has been presented for hundreds of schools and organizations nationally and internationally. The
Chosen One has also been presented at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington,
D.C., The Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., and the New York State
Museum in Albany.
Philadelphian Saul Broudy has been performing for thirty-five years all over North America, and also
in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle-East. Saul’s music covers a wide range of grassroots
American music, from traditional ballads to bluegrass, country, blues, Cajun, and rockabilly. As a harmonica
player, Saul has accompanied many well-known artists, including Steve Goodman, Mick Maloney, and
Louden Wainwright III. He holds a PhD degree in folklore from the University of Pennsylvania, and his
performances aim to inform as well as entertain. Accompanying Saul at the NJ Folk Festival will be his longtime
bassist Dennis Gormley.
The compositions of Roger Deitz, a musician and writer with acerbic wit, have a traditional flavor that fit 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 prestigious Philadelphia Folk Festival, Long Island Folk Festival
and the World Hunger Year Hungerthon concerts. He is a regular contributor to such music publications as
Billboard, Sing Out! and Acoustic Guitar and his book, The Folk Music Chronicles, continues to be popular.
Over the last twenty-five years the Dukes have gained a large and loyal following among Philadelphia
listeners who know and love the blues. With a mix of their own arrangements of obscure blues standards
and powerful original songs, the Dukes continue to grow and develop. Their solid musicianship and
love of the music inspires fans and critics alike. The Dukes have released several CD’s, including The
Dukes of Destiny, which was released in 1991, and House of Forbidden Love, which was released in 1997.
The Deaconesses, or Sisters, of the Fellowship Deaconry of Liberty Corner, New Jersey, trace
their spiritual roots back to the late 1800s in Eastern Germany. There, a revival movement
The Goschenhoppen Strolling Fiddlers began playing at the Goschenhoppen Folk
Festival in 1990. Since then, they have continued to provide 18th and 19th Century
instrumental music at the annual festival. For 18th century music, the group relies
heavily on the tunes and titles that appear in James E. Frill’s Musick Book. For 19th
century tunes, Goschenhoppen mainly uses old time fiddle tunes that they judge to
be of German origin or that were collected in Pennsylvania. The current musicians
of the group are Carl Baron on fiddle, penny whistle, and banjo, Barbara Johnson
on fiddle and guitar, Barbara Bloomfield on fiddle, and Nathan Lohse on cello. The
Goschenhoppen Folk Festival is held on the 2nd Friday and Saturday in August. For
more information visit www.goschenhoppen.org.
Gospel Ways is a musical group from Somerset, New Jersey, with a full, rich, and heavily
instrumented sound, reminiscent of the “hard gospel” singing of the late 1950s. There is
powerful lead singing accompanied by sincere testimonials from the group. The emotional
and spiritual feelings generated are reminiscent of such performers as Alex Bradford, Mahalia
Jackson, and Rosetta Thorpe. Gospel Ways was a winner at the Music Workshop held by the
Reverend Brenda Lumzy at the Voorhees Chapel of Douglass Residential College in June
2004. The group recently released a CD entitled In a Gospel Way.
Jim Murphy organized The Pine Barons in 1969 while broadcasting country music shows on
WJLK in Asbury Park. Thirty-nine years later, they continue to delight thousands of fans in
Philip G. Mylod, uilleann piper, hails from County O’Cean, New Jersey. By day, Philip can be found in the
courthouse as a Barrister-at-Law, but on Tuesday nights, he can generally be found nearby, in a dimly-lit
corner of St. Stephen’s Green Pub, holding court over a round table of fiddles, accordions, bodhráns (Irish
drums), guitars, flutes and tin whistles. Occasionally, a banjo plunks along. As a host of a traditional Irish
Seisiún he is joined by his wife, Jennifer Mylod, a singer, songwriter and masterful fiddle player. Together
they formed the celtic ensemble Mylodic Isle titled after their second CD. Philip also plays irish whistle, low
whistle, flute and bodhrán. Philip has been tutored intensively under Master Piper David Power, of Waterford,
Ireland, and has also had the benefit of studying under numerous other pipers, including Willy Kelly, Brian
McNamara, Paddy Keenan, Mattie Connelly, Jerry O’Sullivan, and Michael Cooney.
Out of the old time tradition of dance music and infused with spontaneity, wit and unexpected
musical turns, Ong’s Hat String Band was organized by a disparate group of acoustic musicians.
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. This year, Spook will be joined onstage by Mara Levine and Dennis
McDonough. Spook’s latest album, Whatcha Gonna Do? recently reached #12 on the Folk Radio Albums
A Highland bagpiper, Frank has competed successfully both as a solo performer and with bands. Frank has
piped at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia and at Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden in New
York City. Frank Watson and his piping are being featured in the currently running Smithsonian Channel TV
documentary, The Ghosts of Duffy’s Cut. He holds a PhD from Drew University and is a student of the late
Robert Gilchrist. Frank will open the festival with a march through the festival grounds.