On Friday, Tom was joined live on Zoom by Helicon, the renowned traditional music trio that includes Ken Kolodner, Robin Bullock and Chris Norman, along with members of the old-timey roots music group Charm City Junction and The Ken & Brad Kolodner Quartet, for our annual Holiday Concert.
Helicon has been delighting their fans here in Baltimore with a Winter Solstice Concert for 36 years. They continued that great Baltimore holiday tradition this year with two live, COVID-safe performances on December 18 at Goucher College’s Kraushaar Auditorium. In addition to Helicon, the Winter Solstice Concert show featured Charm City Junction, with Brad Kolodner, Alex Lacquement, Patrick McAvinue, and Sean McComiskey. The vocalist Rachel Eddy, fiddler Elke Baker, and North American step-dance champion Jonathon Srour were also part of the festivities.
You can watch a video of Midday's live 2021 Holiday Concert below, and on WYPR's YouTube page.
Musical guests on Midday's Holiday Concert include:
Helicon:
Ken Kolodner, on hammer dulcimer, and fiddle;
Robin Bullock, on piano, guitar, cittern and mandolin;
Chris Norman, on wooden flutes, tin whistle, piano, and small bagpipes.
Plus:
Brad Kolodner plays the clawhammer banjo with Charm City Junction and The Ken and Brad Kolodner Quartet.
Alex Lacquement plays upright bass with Charm City Junction and The Ken and Brad Kolodner Quartet.
Sean McComiskey plays button accordion with Charm City Junction.
Elke Baker plays fiddle with The Ken and Brad Kolodner Quartet.
Songs you’ll hear on the Holiday Concert:
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (traditional; arranged by Helicon) / Christmas Eve (Ireland): everyone joins in
Lay Down Your Arms (Doron Levenson, Israel): featured on the CD, On a Cold Winter's Day -- Helicon with Elke & Alex
Black Eyed Susie (Old-time) from Ken & Brad's 2020 CD, Stony Run -- Ken/Brad & Alex
Gesu Bambino (Italy, arranged by Helicon) -- Helicon
Hop High, My Lulu Gal (Old-time) - Brad leads on banjo with everyone playing - from Charm City Junction's last CD, Duckpin
Enjoy the music, and Happy Holidays!
