Sam Bartlett

Evil Diane Sam Bartlett

Sam Bartlett has been playing and altering the shape of modern contradance music for two decades. He has toured and recorded with many of the bands that are arguably the most influential and innovative in the genre: Wild Asparagus, The Clayfoot Strutters, Uncle Gizmo, The Sevens, and The Reckless Ramblers. Evil Diane is a collection of new traditional music written, arranged, and produced by Sam Bartlett. These original tunes are a hybrid of New England and Celtic styles set on a massive rhythm section. Bartlett plays mandolin and tenor banjo and leads the mighty group. Accompanying him on the album is a posse of co-conspirators he's played with over the years, top traditional players from around the country : Uillean piper Christopher Layer and guitarist Danny Noveck from New York City, accordionist and pianist, Jeremiah McLane and fiddler Sam Amidon from Vermont, fiddler David Greely from Louisiana, fiddler Eric Merrill from Boston, bass and mbira player Ben Cooper and percussionist Kevin Anderson from Ohio, whistle player Grey Larsen from Indiana. Some of these tunes will be familiar to thousands of dancers across the country. The title track, Evil Diane has been frequently recorded, and has become standard repertoire for dance musicians in the US. Bartlett has long been known for his tune writing in the contradance community and this first-time compilation of his work has been much anticipated. Sam is originally from Vermont, where he came of age in the thriving dance community of northern New England. His Midwestern roots brought him to Bloomington, Indiana where he lives with his family. 9/04.