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Ramblin' at Waterside

 

with Bob Zentz

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Pint & Dale

Hosted by Bob Zentz

September 9, 2009

The Listening Room at Dockmaster's inside Waterside

7:00 PM -- Admission free!

 

"William Pint and Felicia Dale rank among North America's most exciting interpreters of music based in the traditions of the British Isles and France... unconventional but spine-tingling... unique and mesmerizing "
Dirty Linen

That's right, maritime music, nautical music - the music of the sea. Whether they be contemporary songs with the sea as a theme or shanties, (or chanties, if you prefer) the traditional work songs sung aboard the tall ships to organize the labor of the crew. Those crews were English, Irish, German, French, from the West Indies, The United States and other sea going nations, but the music itself was inspired by the oceans that link all these places together and cover two thirds of our planet. We take all of this as a source of inspiration for our music - giving it our own spin with guitar, hurdy-gurdy, mandolin and other exotic sounds. The result is an unusually energetic and exciting approach to folk music.

We have a tremendously good time playing this music and hope that you will enjoy listening and participating in it either at a live performance or through our recordings.

“Any one who thinks sea music means Haul Away Joe sung slightly off key to the reedy strains of a concertina is in for a revelation when William Pint & Felicia Dale hoist sail and set their course…

With vocals and guitar, mandola, Irish pennywhistles, percussion and the exotic sounds of the vielle-à-roue or hurdy gurdy, the Seattle duo William Pint & Felicia Dale bring an energetic and contemporary spirit to their material.

Drawing on several cultures, Pint and Dale perform traditional and modern music and songs reflecting the immense vitality of those who live and work on the sea. Their music fits into the world of modern folk, rock and popular song, but it's rich with the myth, narrative, rhythm, rhyme and lyric associated with the days of the tall ships.
felicia face
Felicia Dale grew up in an environment steeped in the traditional lore of the sea. Born on New Year's Day 1958 and raised on Vashon Island in Washington State's Puget Sound, she spent her childhood sailing Northwest coastal waters and cruising Canada's “inside passage.” Her father was a sea captain who brought back tales and treasures from exotic ports of call. Her mother is a transplanted Parisian; Dale learned French as her first language and acquired a lifelong love for the songs of the French seafaring tradition.

Felicia's first musical venture was a duet act with Waterbug recording artist Kat Eggleston when they were both sixteen.

Her exposure to the vielle-à-roue or hurdy-gurdy was first through several Seattle area players and then from a performance by the French group Cabistan while on tour at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. Upon her return to Seattle she immediatley commisioned an instrument from California luthier Michael Hubbert.

Felicia’s striking vocal harmonies are matched by her creative use of the hurdy-gurdy and Irish pennywhistles, taking these traditional instruments far beyond their usual roles as she blends them into the texture of a song or departs on improvisational romps with equal ease.

william faceWilliam Pint, born December 20th, 1953, was led astray into the folk world in 1970. He was wooed away from his early rock and roll influences (The Who, The Kinks, and The Beatles) by the folk/rock sounds of Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention. This led to a growing interest in the more traditional, less electric music of such artists as Martin Carthy, John Renbourn, The Chieftains and the eclectic songs of the Incredible String Band.

In 1977 he headed west to escape the cold Wisconsin winters of his native Milwaukee and to pursue music. The salt air of Puget Sound and the rich, seafaring history of the Pacific Northwest soon led him to explore the song and lore of the deepwater sailors. With his band Morrigan he recorded an album of Irish tunes and nautical songs “By Land or By Sea,” for Folkways Records in 1979. Along with composer Paul Ely Smith and Robert Kotta in the group Ellipsis, he investigated the unusual combination of minimalist, folk and classical music. Flying Fish Records released their 1984 self-titled recording produced by Mícheál Ó Dhomhnàill. The same trio also performed and recorded as Copperfield, a popular Northwest band specializing in British Isles and Celtic music. The trio opened concerts for Richard Thompson, Martin Carthy, Silly Wizard, John Renbourn, David Bromberg and others.

In performance, William Pint’s emotionally expressive singing is complemented by his powerful guitar and mandola work with which he can supply settings of great delicacy or wild, driving rhythms.
Pint and Dale have won an ardent following across the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands with their recordings and appearances at festivals and concerts.

They have recorded eight albums, the independently released CDs “ Port of Dreams” and “Making Waves,” and Waterbug label releases, “Hearts of Gold,” “Round the Corner,” “When I See Winter Return,” “Hartwell Horn ,” “White Horses,""Seven Seas ” and "Set of the Sail".

Pint and Dale gather together material from many locales and cultures including the West Indies, Wales and Brittany. No dead tradition, seafaring music is very much alive in the hands of William Pint & Felicia Dale, and in the daily lives of people still dedicated to sailing tall ships in the 21st Century.” 


Pint & Dale Official Website:  http://www.pintndale.com/

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