Performance Reviews

John Campbell Folk School Concert Review

Lorinda's concerts in Brasstown are always well received and well

attended. She is an accomplished mountain dulcimer player, and we

enjoy her dulcimer music, especially her baritone dulcimer with its

deep, rich tone. But folk harp players are scarcer than hen's teeth

around here and for many of our concert goers, the harp is the big

draw. And Lorinda doesn't disappoint, playing everything from classic

18th century Irish harp tunes by Turlough O'Carolan, to hymns, fiddle

tunes and even a spirited rag. She often surprises us with a guest

artist or two - usually some of our many local musicians.

Bob Dalsemer

Coordinator, Music and Dance Programs

John C. Campbell Folk School

http://www.folkschool.org

Down Home Days Festival Performance

Thanks Lorinda & Polk Sallet.

The 35th Annual Down Home Day's Festival in Big Spring Ky. got to enjoy a performance by Lorinda Jones and Polk Sallet.

Like the town itself, the performance was rich in history, and charm!

We enjoyed it a lot, Thank's!

Kevin Wood

Dulcimer A La Mode Book Review

Hi Lorinda,

I just wanted to let you know, I was in Berea recently & I visited theArtisan Center; they had your book!! Of course I purchased it, and I must say...It is just wonderful! I love the way you divided each mode into sections, and the accompanying CD is just great also. Some of the songs I've heard before, but there are several, in which I've never heard; to be able to hear the song, and then play it, is just such a wonderful way to learn something new. Yourbook has been my "salvation"...all of the chords are there! Again, just wanted to let you know I finally got your book, and how much it has already been of help to me.

Lolita

Creekside Core Content

Lorinda Jones and Mark Gatewood visited Creekside Elementary on Friday March 21^st, 2008. Lorinda�s performance was not only entertaining, but also informative. She took the kids through a musical journey of culture and history. She had instruments from Native American, Traditional Appalachian and West African cultures. Students could see instruments like the dulcimer and the gourd banjo and hear the different sounds they made as Lorinda demonstrated each of them. Lorinda is also very talented and knows how to play each instrument and performed songs with Mark from different periods of history, including Kentucky. Mark accompanied her on the guitar and the fiddle. For some of the songs, Lorinda encouraged students to participate by teaching them parts they could sing on their own. The information given not only allowed students to experience the arts firsthand, but also gave them valuable information pertaining to the Kentucky Core Content Test.

Sarah Howlett

5^th grade teacher

Creekside Elementary

Hardin County, KY

Below is the Kentucky Core Content covered in Lorinda�s lesson.

Humanity in the Arts

The arts reflect the beliefs, feelings and ideas of those who create them. Experiencing the arts allows one to experience time, place and/or personality. By experiencing the arts of various cultures, students can actually gain insight into the beliefs, feelings and ideas of those cultures. Students also have the opportunity to experience how the arts can influence society through analysis of arts in their own lives and the arts of other cultures and historical periods. Studying the historical and cultural stylistic periods in the arts offers students an opportunity to understand the world past and present and to learn to appreciate their own cultural heritage. Looking at the interrelationships of multiple arts disciplines across cultures and historical periods is the focus of humanities in the arts.

AH-05-2.1.1

Students will describe or explain how music has been a part of cultures and periods throughout history.

DOK 2

Cultures:

Native American,

Traditional Appalachian

West African

Similarities and differences in the use of music) (e.g., ceremonial purposes) and the use of elements of music among cultures (musical instruments, e.g., Native American � rattles, drums, flutes, Appalachian � dulcimer, fiddle, banjo, guitar, West African � drums, rattles, thumb piano); polyrhythm in West African music not in Native American

Periods:

Colonial American (e.g. work songs, game songs, patriotic music, lullaby, folk music)

Native American includes period in North America before European settlement

European influences in American music, similarities between the music in the American colonies and the cities of Europe (The influence of Europe was very strong in the colonies due to the movement of settlers from Europe to America.)

DPN Review, Acoustic Accord CD

DPN Summer 2007:
Neal Walters, Reviewer
Kentuckian, Lorinda Jones is nationally known as a solo performer, a very much in demand and outstanding teacher, a very busy recording artist and as a Board Certified Music Therapist. She specializes in Celtic and American traditional music and plays Celtic (Irish style) harp, mountain dulcimer, and tin whistle, along with a variety of other folk instruments. In Acoustic Accord, she teams up with Bruce Adair who has studied guitar with likes of Pat Kirtley and Eddie Pennington, both stalwarts of the Kentucky �thumbpicking� school of guitar playing. In Acoustic Accord, Bruce plays guitar, mandolin, ukulele and bouzouki while Kelsie Westfall adds bass, fiddle, and mandolin to the mix. Acoustic Accord, their first recording, features a somewhat eclectic mixture of tunes ranging from ancient harp tunes of Ireland and Scotland to American mountain music, bluegrass, ragtime, and gospel. The tunes certainly come from a variety of sources, but they all have a peaceful, easy feeling that is the trademark sound of Acoustic Accord. Lorinda�s dulcimer playing is very solid. She appropriately takes a leading role on most of the traditional tunes like Sonny�s Mazurka and The Gypsy Rover and gets to play some great harmony lines when Bruce shows off his fingerpicking skills on tunes like I Am a Pilgrim and Pete Seeger�s Living in the Country. Other tunes like Blue Moon of Kentucky and Happy Trails aren't songs you hear every day on the dulcimer and are very welcome additions to my list of songs to learn. If you like Celtic harp, Lorinda�s version of Beaumont Rag is killer. This is a totally delightful recording that manages to be very relaxing and stimulating at the same time. I�m guessing that it will find a permanent place in your CD rotation

Lebanon Elementary Core Content School Performance

Lorinda Jones performed traditional folk instruments at Lebanon Elementary on March 28. As I observed the presentation to the fourth and fifth grade students, her musicianship impressed me. However, what really amazed me is how she incorporates core content into her performance. This presentation was very educational and was clearly focused on student learning. I truly appreciate Ms. Jones for coming to Lebanon Elementary and can only hope she enjoyed us as much as we enjoyed her.

Kandice Spalding

Music Specialist, Marion County Schools

DPN Review, Night Cap CD

Dulcimer Players News Spring 1998

Neal Walters, Reviewer

Another of the great new releases that came in while I was enjoying Maddie�s grace period is from Kentuckian Lorinda Jones. On Night Cap, Lorinda plays (a deep breath, please) Celtic harp, oboe, mountain dulcimer, English horn, tin whistle, autoharp, bowed psaltery, tenor recorder, flute, and piano. Ginger Harden helps by adding another half dozen instruments from mandolin to bodhr�n and Dave McKellep adds guitar. Lorinda�s dulcimer playing is great, of course, but it�s just part of the story here as her harp and oboe add wonderful textures to the music that never seems cluttered or rushed. The album is filled with lovely �just one more before we go to bed� melodies and lullabies from Celtic, American, and even classical sources. Another wonderful resource for you �tune hounds.�

DPN Review, Cottages & Castles CD

DPN Summer 2001:
Neal Walters, Reviewer

Kentucky�s Lorinda Jones and her friends who call themselves Just By Chance, have released a lovely collection of Irish and Scottish traditional music played on hammered and mountain dulcimer, Celtic harp, whistles, recorders, flute, violin, cello, English horn, piano, oboe, mandolin, and guitar. Cottages and Castles is filled with marvelous arrangements that seamlessly weave the various instrumental textures into a very cohesive whole. The music is contemplative, peaceful and serene for the most part with frequent injections of sprightly dance rhythms that make this a complete and utter delight to experience. Lorinda�s Celtic harp playing is just terrific and along with Brenda Brooks hammered dulcimer, generally states each theme. Close your eyes and you can almost see a leaf floating down a quiet brook, encountering a gentle massage by Rob Smith�s languorous violin or cello and then being buffeted by a playful whistle or recorder or Dell Harris� rhythmic guitar accompaniment, making it bob and weave for a moment before breaks free and, undamaged, makes its way back into calm water. That�s what I saw anyway. Your mileage may vary but I suspect you�ll enjoy letting these folks create your own custom image as you lose yourself in the music.

Core Content School Program

Our students enjoyed the review performance that Ms. Jones shared with us. The journey through history and the detailed musical excerpts were exactly what our students needed for the unit review. The original musical instruments were a great asset, the song selection was perfect, and the listening examples were age appropriate. The children enjoyed seeing and listening to this performance and are still talking about it. This was a perfect ending for our Appalchian Music unit!

Beth Root, Music and Drama Instructor

Lincoln Trail Elementary, Hardin County Schools

No Shadows DPN Review

Summer Issue Dulcimer Players News

Review by Neal Walters

No Shadows . Lorinda Jones, PO Box 123, Rineyville, KY 40162,

After several album releases featuring her Celtic harp, tin whistle, piano, oboe, autoharp and psaltery skills in addition to mountain dulcimer, Lorinda Jones has at long last released an entire album featuring the mountain dulcimer as the lead instrument on each track. It was well worth the wait. No Shadows was recorded in its entirety in one long session in early February and I'm guessing the title means that a local groundhog did not see his shadow. He was probably enraptured by the sweet sounds anyway and, had he seen his shadow, it would not have been a shadow of and serious doubt about the music. Lorinda's playing is typically terrific, tremendously tasteful, totally titillating, and, as always, suits my ear to . wait for it . a 'T'. The songs are mostly traditional American folk favorites with some beautiful old hymns and a couple of Celtic tunes thrown in for good measure but Lorinda's treatment of these venerable old tunes is anything but business as usual. Her arrangements are different in that special way that sets good players apart from the ordinary. She has also surrounded herself with some very capable people like Rob Smith on mandolin and cello, Dell Harris on guitar, Gary Gallier on dulcimer and udu (hedu a fine job as engineer too!), Brenda Brooks on hammered dulcimer and flute, Rob Harris on fiddle, and Jean Ham on harmony dulcimer. Lorinda also plays whistle and recorder but her versatility extends well beyond just playing a room full of instruments. She flatpicks hot fiddle tunes with the best of them; she fingerpicks slow ballads with the gentle touch of the wonderful harpist she is; and she unleashes her dujo (a cross between a dulcimer and a banjo) on a lively Irish jig. Not least, her inventive arrangements give her supporting cast plenty of room to shine too. This is a classic dulcimer album that should find its way into your collection.

No Shadows Review

Your CD is really nice -- in the time frame you were working in I'm impressed! You project such a warmth and gentleness in your music in general, and this CD shows how deeply connected to the mountain dulcimer you are. The freshness and spontaneity comes through well, and sometimes I think people work a tune to death (or else bury the mountain dulcimer in other tracks). It will be a tremendous inspiration to your students, I think, because it shows them that your arrangements are accessible and worth going for. Overall, some really impressive playing and arranging -- I'm glad you did something focused on solos!

Thanks!

Jerry Rockwell

Celtic Collection Book/CD Review

Lorinda,

I received the CD and Book yesterday in the mail and listened to the CD while driving to and from work, lunch, home, etc today. It is beautiful to listen to. You play with such style.  I really enjoy the CD. I can't wait to get a few minutes to try the tunes in the book. Thank you so much for writing and recording this book/cd combo.

So, am I correct that you are strumming, focusing on the melody notes and then strumming softly for the fill-in? That's what it sounds like to me and you do it beautifully!

I sure am glad you wrote the book and that I had the sense to buy it! I can't wait to try to mimic your approach to the dulcimer.

Dale Palmer

Things About Strings DVD Review

"Things About String" DVD is very informative and gives the students a look at the various folk instruments. Aside from bringing in live performers, this is the next best thing!

The performance at the end gives them the chance to see and hear the instruments together and serves as a springboard for discussion about folk traditions, dress, etc.

I would encourage you to create more performance videos, especially for our Glenforest students, most of whom have learning differences, audiovisuals such as this are quite helpful.

Thanks again for making the video.

Mary Ann Watson,

Music Instructor, Glenforest School

Your new CD is as stunning to listen to as it is to look at--what a gorgeous cover. ('Course, I expect you know I'm rather fond of blue!)
The selection of tunes was great--it is, for me, a perfect mix of never-heard and old familiars. I like how it all "hangs" together...and the musicianship...ahhhhhhhhh (awe!). Beautiful arrangements and performance...it is a recording I will listen to many times (and have done so already!). (Butterfly, by the way, is exceptional!)

Janita Baker

LDS Performance Review

Lorinda,
I just want to say a great BIG THANK YOU for providing LDS with a most memorable and enjoyable afternoon. As far as I can tell the workshops all went well and the the concert was wonderful---I do believe that is the most talent we've had on that "stage" at one time---ever!! Your selection of tunes was great and exposed the audience to variety of music & instruments. How easy you all made it look to play those instruments so well & seemingly so effortlessly. WOW--what talent you all have been blessed with!!! Please relay this message to Bruce & Kelsie as they added much to the success of this event!! I wish you all the best in your future endeavors . I & others hope to get down your way in November.

Lynne (LDS President)
Louisville Dulcimer Society!

KY Music Hall of Fame & Museum Performance

I must thank you, Bruce, and Kelsie for putting on by far one of the most class act performances we've ever had. It was the most culturally fascinating performance we've had since I've been here.
Chris Mullins, Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Resident Musician

Valley View Baptist Church Christmas Concert

I appreciate your professionalism you displayed in your playing and your willingness to go the extra mile with the harp. This year�s concert was the best received and attended.
Steven Skaggs, Music Minister

Elizabethtown Woman's Club Presentation

I can�t begin to tell you how enjoyable and meaningful your program of music was to the Elizabethtown Woman�s Club� I think it has been the highlight of our year.

Kitty DuPlessis, Program Chair

Core Content School Program

Thank you so very much for visiting our school last spring. The students and staff enjoyed the program and learned a lot. They talked about it for days afterward.
Mike Gee, Principal Joe Harrison Carter Elem.

Cincinnati Celtic Festival

You were a delight and a treat and revelation to hear solo�your stage presence is wonderful�love your phrasing, polish, and everything in your playing
Nancy Bick Clark, Cincinnati Celtic Festival

Dulcimer Workshop

�Your workshop was the best one that I attended during the French Lick festival. And what an experience it was to watch you share your love of the dulcimer and music to the group. It was �catching�, and made me love the music even more.�
Theresa Williams, Dulcimer Festival, French Lick, IN

Design For Success Book Review

"By the way, we had some extra A&H textbook money left over. I have ordered 15 dulcimers for us! I am really excited to use them next year and to use your Mountain Dulcimer book/CD. It's a great resource!" (in reference to Lorinda's new book Mountain Dulcimer: A Design For Success with an accompanying CD )

Kelly Cruze
Music Teacher
Morningside Elementary

No Shadows CD Review

No Shadows CD:
Wow!!! What a nice compilation of music for the dulcimer. This may very well be the best representation of the mountain dulcimer that I have heard. Most presentations are overpowering with the dulcimer, No Shadows, allows the dulcimer to be pre-eminent. Super!!
Thank you very much for the CD.
ML Jackson, Richmond, Kentucky

No Shadows CD Review

Have fun, Lorinda--gonna do the "watermelon crawl" too? Hey everybody, Lorinda has got a sweet new CD--I've been enjoying in it my car this week--crisp sound, creative arrangements that invite the listener deep into the tunes--major AND minor tunes! Very nice--you'll be sorry if you don't pick this one for your collection!
Steve Eulberg, www.owlmntnmusic.com

No Shadows CD Review

Hi Lorinda: just wanted to send a brief note to let you know that I finally got enough stuff unpacked to be able to listen to your new CD the other night and have probably played it half a dozen times since then. It is superb. I liked both the old favorites and some "new" to me favorites. I had never heard Bound for the Promised Land in a minor key before - something new to appreciate. Peace.
Brian

Night Cap CD Review

I am completely in love with your CD. I've kept it playing while I work on the project, and find it very soothing and yet inspiring, at the same time.   I've got several other friends that I know would very much enjoy your music as well. In fact, one friend, who engaged me to do this project is very loyal to her Scottish heritage, and I know would love to have one. I give her something Celtic related every year for Christmas, so would love to have one to set aside for her next year's Christmas present. I'm thinking about another friend who loves Appalachian music, another that's a massage therapist, and a friend who just established a music therapy program and library at Norton-Audubon Hospital in honor of her husband who was a pathologist there before his death from liver cancer. Also, my sister works with special needs kids in Bullit County schools, and I want to share this with her.
I hope my enthusiasm isn't going overboard here, I'm just very taken with the loveliness of what I'm hearing, and just had to share it with you. I'm very grateful that this project has brought me into contact with you, and I'm so glad it will enable me to let others enjoy your gifts as well.

N Doctor

No Shadow CD Review

Lorinda, I couldn't get home fast enough tonight to listen to the C.D.   What can I say but.....
I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!

Really, it is a beautifully done C.D.   I honestly don't know which song I liked best. The whole thing has lilt to it and lots of feeling. That Bass dulcimer and the Baritone come across so richly it gives me goose bumps!!

I really liked the selection of songs. I thought it was a good mix. Wayfarin' Stranger/Shady Grove/Cluck Old Hen is wonderful. I will definitely recommend this C.D. to people who want to hear good old-fashioned traditional music. It's one that I would buy for myself (and I'm pretty picky) even if I wasn't included on it.

Again, thank you for letting me be a part of such a "high class" project. This is a moment I will treasure forever.

Jean

General CD Review

Lorinda,
I wanted to send you a brief message to tell you how very much I am enjoying your cd's I purchased at conference. I have been listening to them during my quiet time every evening before bed and find them very relaxing. You are truly an amazing and talented woman - what a blessing it has been to get to know you better.
T Haynes