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Of the scores of musicians billed as "versatile," Peter Davis may be most deserving of the accolade. Proficient on an astonishing variety of instruments, including clarinet, alto sax, 5-string & tenor banjo, piano, guitar, mandolin and whistle, Peter boasts an intuitive approach to all manner of traditional folk, blues, vintage pop and jazz forms. He currently plays with at least seven bands doing all kinds of gigs, from the ridiculous to the sublime, including concerts, festivals, schools, racetracks, weddings and private parties of all kinds. Peter’s current projects include: LINDY HOP HEAVEN: With Peter at the helm, "Lindy Hop Heaven" has become one of the nation's most requested swing dance bands. The band features Peter on clarinet, alto sax, piano and vocals, the renowned George Reed on drums, Peter Ecklund on trumpet, Dave Davies on trombone, guitar and vocals, Tom Mitchell on guitar and vocals and Harry Aceto on bass. They play swing dances, festivals and music and dance camps nationwide, and are heard annually at Swing Out New Hampshire, Beantown Lindy Hop Summer Camp and Western and Swing Week at Ashokan. "Lindy Hop Heaven" also plays regularly at swing dances up and down the east coast and around the country. Known as a "dancer's band," they've learned to play the tempos, riffs and rhythms that are most desired by dancers of Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, Jitterbug, Shag, West Coast Swing and more. Dancers frequently come up to them after a tune and say, "How did you know how to play exactly what we were dancing?" The JAY UNGAR and MOLLY MASON BAND This versatile ensemble is known for their stellar renditions traditional and original folk, blues, swing, Western Swing and American and Celtic fiddle music. Peter has been associated with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason (www.jayandmolly.com) since 1989 and has performed with them in the house band on "A Prairie Home Companion," in concerts at places like the Chautauqua Institution and the Rhythm and Roots Festival, and with people like David Bromberg and Natalie Merchant. Peter also teaches each summer at Jay and Molly's Ashokan Fiddle & Dance Camp's Western & Swing Week and is a regular performer and house band member on their monthly radio show "Dancing on the Air" (www.dancingontheair.com), heard on the 2nd Wednesday of each month on WAMC's Northeast Public Radio Network. With Jay and Molly, Peter gets to do his entire multi-instrumentalist thing: piano, clarinet, alto sax, guitar, mandolin, 5 string banjo and vocals. Peter is heard on the Jay Ungar & Molly Mason Band's most recent CD (2003), "Relax Your Mind", on Angel Records. PETER, PAUL & GEORGE This remarkable trio specializes in school residencies in traditional music and dance. Peter, George Wilson and Paul Rosenberg, bring traditional music and dance to life with their Arts in Education Programs. Through their traditional community music and dance programs, children learn to love and respect our common heritage and to better understand and appreciate the traditions and cultures of people around the world. THE CLAYFOOT STRUTTERS Purveyors of their own brand of groove based contradance fusion, Zydeco and original folk music, "The Clayfoot Strutters" play dance camps, concerts and festivals from Vermont to Alabama and from Alaska to Costa Rica! The personnel includes Peter on electric guitar, piano, clarinet and alto sax along with Pete Sutherland on fiddle, Jeremiah McLane on accordion and piano, Mark Roberts on banjo and flute, and Lee Blackwell on drums, guitar and vocals. REGGIE'S RED HOT FEETWARMERS This acoustic, strolling, traditional New Orleans Dixieland jazz band is the house band at Saratoga Racecourse each summer. Peter plays tenor banjo and sings his heart out. THE WHIPPERSNAPPERS Fine fiddle and banjo music abound when "The Whippersnappers," with George Wilson, Frank Orsini and Peter Davis, perform their joyfully eclectic repertoire of old time music, from the rollicking banjo songs of Uncle Dave Macon, to Leadbelly's 12-string guitar blues, to driving double fiddle tunes and haunting Shetland airs. Peter is heard on guitar, piano and vocals. WEDDINGS AND PRIVATE PARTIES: With his vast array of musical contacts and his experience in many kinds of music, Peter can choose the perfect group of musicians for your event. His wedding music is the antithesis of the usual wedding band - always tasteful, never too loud and tailored to what you and your guests really want to hear! |
