Flying Shoes Radio Hour

Episode 8 - Carol Bittenson, Cecile Leroy, Daniel Raine

Episode Summary

Episode 8 of the FSRH was part of an epic late February weekend in Maine with Carol Bittenson, Cecile Leroy, and Daniel Raine. Lots of common threads to weave in this interview as the versatile combo reunited for their second gig as a trio (the first being just before the Covid19 pandemic.) The conversation was a sweet glimpse of the collaborative nature of these three fine musicians, and the commitment they have to playing music for dancers. Their histories overlapped and diverged, sort of like a beautiful weaving with different colors and patterns highlighted and converging. You’ll also be treated to Ice Cream Sandwiches, Owls with Cowls, tunes for particular people, and some classics in the contra and English country dance vernacular. Enjoy!

Episode Notes

Download the full transcript here

Carol, Cecile, and Raine (Daniel) referred to a dance organization in Cambridge MA, BIDA https://www.bidadance.org/. They each have a variety of musical projects, and we talked about some of them during our conversation. 

Carol Bittenson also plays with:

• Crossover (with Len Bittenson & Alex Cumming)
• Free Association (with Debby Knight & Amy Richardson Larkin)

Daniel Raine (Instagram @raine.maker) also plays with:

• Thistlebird (with Emma Sloan) - Instagram @thistlebirdduo, email thistlebirdduo@gmail.com
• Paper Plane (with Emma Azelborn, and Rohan Weeden) - Instagram @paperplane.contra, email paperplanecontra@gmail.com
• Chimney Swift (with AZ Madonna, Yaron Shragai & Cecile Leroy) - Instagram @chimneyswiftband, email chimneyswiftband@gmail.com
  • Album - chimneyswift.bandcamp.com/album/fly-me-home
  • Website - chimneyswiftband.com/

Cecile Leroy also plays with: 

• The New Way (with Dave Langford & Jacqueline Schwab)
• A duo with Sammy Wetstein & Jacqueline Schwab
• Chimney Swift (with AZ Madonna, Yaron Shragai & Daniel Raine) - Instagram @chimneyswiftband, email chimneyswiftband@gmail.com
  • Album - chimneyswift.bandcamp.com/album/fly-me-home
  • Website - [chimneyswiftband.com/](https://chimneyswiftband.com/

Tunes:

1. Owl’s Cowl (Daniel Raine)
2. Jigs - Ice Cream on the Terrace (Carol Bittenson) / Irishman’s Heart to the Ladies (trad) / Ice Cream on the Terrace (Carol Bittenson)
3. Waltz - Devon’s (Cecile Leroy)
4. Telephone Tune (trad) / Fred Letson’s (Cecile Leroy)
5. Childgrove (trad) / Key to the Cellar (trad)
6. Well Hall (trad)
7. Coalminer (trad) / Tam Lin (trad)