Maggie's Music Releases Maggie Sansone's Twelfth Album, Wind Drift: Celtic Grooves, Mystic Moods

    SHUTESBURY, MA, October 07, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Maggie Sansone is America's premier hammered dulcimer player and recording artist. She has been featured on CBS-TV's "Sunday Morning", NPR's "All Things Considered", "Performance Today", "The Thistle and Shamrock" and Sirius/XM radio. With more than a half million recordings sold, her releases include: A Celtic Fair, Celtic Meditations, Mystic Dance, A Traveler's Dream, Dance Upon the Shore, Ancient Noels, A Scottish Christmas (Vol. 1 & 2), Mist and Stone, and Traditions.

Sansone's Wind Drift takes the Annapolis, Maryland-based hammered dulcimer virtuoso in the most intimate and personal direction of her career as she continues to push the boundaries of Celtic music. Working in a studio in the Virginia countryside with her world-class label-based ensemble, Sansone and producer Bobby Read blend layers of rich woodwinds, American fretted instruments and world percussion around traditional Celtic jigs, reels and laments - all in a warm-up for Sansone's ever evolving original compositions. With title track "Wind Drift" setting the tone, the music takes the listener on this new journey "like a boat adrift in the winds of early dawn."

About the recording sessions, Sansone recalls, "I wanted to give the musicians a lot of open space for themes and variations to percolate into groove patterns, and for ideas to evolve." Grammy Award-winning guitarist Al Petteway (whose Maggie's Music recordings are featured prominently in Ken Burns' "National Parks" score) contributes the magic thread of his unmistakable guitar style. Robin Bullock, another Maggie's Music artist, adds characteristic drive on cittern and mandolin. Rounding out the small ensemble is world percussionist Matthew Bell on bodhran, djembe and cajon. Producer Bobby Read (who is a member of Bruce Hornsby's band) knits it all together with dense harmonies on woodwinds, accordion and keyboard.

Hi Res Photo: http://www.maggiesmusic.com/images/artists/MaggieSansoneColor.jpg

Audio tracks here: http://www.maggiesmusic.com/products/mm114.html

Website: http://www.maggiesansone.com/

Upcoming dates:

Oct 16, 17, 23 & 24- Maggie performs at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. 10-11(maypole);12-12:30-and 2-3-path shows with puppets. 1821 Crownsville Rd., Annapolis 800-296-7304. 410-266-7304, http://www.rennfest.com

Nov. 14, 2010. Maggie Sansone's Wind Drift and CD Release Concert & more! With Laura Byrne on Irish flute, Pat Egan on vocals and guitar; Jim Eagan on fiddle and Shannon Dunne, Sean Nos Irish Step Dancing. http://www.oldbrogue.com/ The Old Brogue Irish Pub is located near the corner of Georgetown Pike and Walker Rd. in Great Falls, Virginia.

Nov. 20, 2010 7:30 pm. Celtic Duo: Maggie Sansone & Andrea Hoag ( fiddle) . Chincoteague Island, VA. Information: 757-336-5636, [email protected]. Info, tickets & location http://www.chincoteagueculturalalliance.org/acousticmusicseries.

Dec. 5, 2010 4 pm & 7 pm. (two concerts, each followed by reception) Christ Church Annual Celtic Christmas Celebration with Maggie Sansone, hammered dulcimer; Laura Byrne on flute; Jim Eagan on fiddle and from Pat Egan, vocals and guitar. Christ Episcopal Church. 220 Owensville Rd., West River, MD 20778. Tickets go on sale October 20: $16 adults; $7 children. To order tickets, call (410) 867-2570; or e-mail [email protected]. Church web page: http://www.christchurchwestriver.org

Dec. 18, 2010 7:30-8:30 pm. First Mennonite Church of Richmond presents A Christmas Celebration with Maggie Sansone, hammered dulcimer; Andrea Hoag, fiddle; Sharon Knowles, Celtic harp. Tickets & information: Murray Ellison, [email protected] (804) 301-7982. Tickets: Voluntary Offering Accepted. Ticket reservation will be made through Murray Ellison. Location: 601 E. Parham Rd. Richmond. VA 23227. Church website: http://www.fmc-richmond.org/. Directions from Washington: 95 S to exit 83 - Parham Rd East. east 1/2 mile, turn right at St. Charles, then immediate left to the church.

Jan. 1, 2011 The Rams Head Tavern presents Maggie Sansone plus Al Petteway & Amy White. Celebrate the new year and Maggie Sansone's new CD Release, Wind Drift and virtuoso performances on hammered dulcimer, guitar, cittern, mandolin, woodwinds and percussion. Special guests also include Paul Oorts (cittern, mandolin), Seth Kibel (woodwinds) and Matt Bell (Irish bodhran). 33 West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401. (410) 268-4545. http://www.ramsheadonstage

The folk & world music magazine Dirty Linen perfectly describes Maggie's style: "Sansone performs in that hold-your-breath emotive style that has the listener hanging onto every note, awaiting the next bend in the road."

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