Dragon Reels by Roger Landes

25th Anniversary Reissue of a Celtic Music classic recording.

"Dragon Reels", the first solo CD recorded by ex-Scartaglen member Roger Landes, was released by Ranger Music on March 1st, 1997. ("Dragon Reels" is an anagram of Roger Landes.)

"Dragon Reels" was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, with Grammy Award-winning producer and engineer Bil VornDick. (Bil VornDick is well-known to acoustic music aficionados as one of the very best engineers and producers in the business. His work with Alison Krauss, Bela Fleck, Maura OConnell, Doc Watson, Mark OConnor, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Russ Barenberg, New Grass Revival, Peter Rowan, Laurie Lewis, Robin & Linda Williams, Marty Robbins, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, and many others, has made him a legend among those who appreciate clarity and definition in the art of audio recording.)

Joining Roger on the recording are several world-class musicians: Narada recording artist John Whelan (accordion), ace accompanist Zan McLeod (guitar), internationally acclaimed singer Connie Dover (vocal and keyboard), 5-string banjo pioneer Chris Grotewohl, and fellow Scartaglen alum Mike Dugger (fiddle), among others.

"Dragon Reels" is the first recording consisting entirely of Irish and Scots traditional music recorded in Nashville. Producer/Engineer Bil VornDick used state of the art equipment and techniques to faithfully capture the true acoustic sound of the unique instruments and the musicians energized playing during the sessions for this recording.

"Dragon Reels" showcases Rogers revealing playing on the Irish bouzouki, the newest "Celtic" instrument. Drawing on a wealth of material from Irish and Scots traditional music, as well as several new compositions by himself and others, Roger takes the bouzouki to new heights.

Nine of the CDs twelve tracks feature Roger's innovative and muscular bouzouki playing. Two numbers highlight his unique and lyrical guitar style, and another centers around his driving mandolin. On what is perhaps the most surprising selection, The Devil and the Farmers Wife, Connie Dover's incomparable singing combines with Rogers twin bouzoukis, Bob Burns fretless bass, and the haunting slide pipes of Celtic music-newcomer Sir Angus McGarrish, into a blend that is hypnotic, otherworldly, and mysterious.

On "Dragon Reels", Rogers bouzouki, guitar and mandolin move out of their customary supporting roles and into the foreground, where, in such capable hands, they can lead an ensemble comprised of more "traditional" instruments. With this release, Roger documents what other musicians have known for years: he is among the best string players in Celtic music -- an innovator with a unique voice.

Personnel: Produced and engineered by Bil VornDick Roger Landes bouzouki, guitar, mandolin John Whelan accordion Zan McLeod guitar Connie Dover vocal, keyboards Albert Alfonso bodhran, percussion Chris Grotewohl 5-string banjo Mike Dugger fiddle Joe Root s piano, whistle Bob Burns fretless bass Sir Angus McGarrish s slide pipes

Roger Landes has been playing and teaching traditional music for over 30 years. With the celebrated Celtic band Scartaglen, performing with vocalist Connie Dover, as well as touring with Carlos Núñez, and Frankie Gavin and Rick Epping, to his duo work with fiddler Randal Bays, and his critically-acclaimed duo bouzouki record with Chipper Thompson.