Ethan's fiddling combines expressive subtlety, playfulness, and compelling rhythmic power born out of more than two decades of experience as a dance musician. A versatile and inspiring performer, Ethan is equally at home digging into an Irish, Quebecois, or New England fiddle tune, improvising on a classic blues, swing, or honky-tonk song, or interpreting a lyrical waltz or English Country Dance melody.
Based in Brattleboro, Vermont, Ethan tours extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad, playing for dances, festivals, camps, concerts, weddings, and other events with his bands Elixir and The Figments. He performs closer to home with honky-tonk band The Rear Defrosters. Ethan is also an avid composer of tunes in traditional styles, and his compositions and arrangements have been played and recorded widely.
Apr 12, 2012at 8:00 pm | Rochester Contra DanceCovenant United Methodist Church, 1124 Culver Road, Rochester, NY 14609with ElixirRebecca Lay (calling) and The Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet) |
Apr 13, 2012to Apr 15, 2012 | Spring Thaw Dance WeekendToronto, Ontario, Canadawith ElixirRebecca Lay (calling) and The Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet) |
Apr 20, 2012to Apr 22, 2012 | When in Doubt, Swing!Dallas, TXwith Elixir |
Apr 25, 2012at 7:30 pm | Amherst Contra DanceMasonic Lodge, 99 Main St, Amherst, MA 01002with ElixirThe Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet) |
May 4, 2012to May 6, 2012 | May Madness Dance WeekendClarkdale, AZwith Elixirw/ The Groovemongers, The Great Bear Trio, and Will Mentor |
May 11, 2012at 8:00 pm | Burlington Contra DanceEdmunds Middle School, 299 Main St, Burlington, VTwith ElixirThe Interns: Mary Wesley (calling) and Max Newman (guitar). Max, Mary, and I have all worked as Youth Intern for CDSS. |
May 12, 2012at 3:00 pm | Special Burlington Contra DanceSt Michael's Collegewith ElixirJeremiah Mclane (piano/accordion), Owen Marshall (guitar/tenor banjo), and Will Mentor (calling) |
May 13, 2012at 7:30 pm | Brattleboro Contra DanceMain and Grove Streets, Brattleboro, VTwith ElixirJeremiah Mclane (piano/accordion), Owen Marshall (guitar/tenor banjo), and Will Mentor (calling) |
May 16, 2012at 7:30 pm | Amherst Contra DanceMasonic Lodge, 99 Main St, Amherst, MAwith Elixir |
May 19, 2012at 8:00 pm | Greenfield Contra Dance401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MAwith Elixir |
To order Elixir CDs please visit the Elixir store.
Selected traditional and original material arranged to highlight the diverse musical ideas that grow out of the New England contra dance tradition. Ethan’s solo CD moves gracefully between high energy jigs and reels, contemplative airs, and lovely waltzes, flirting with musical ideas drawn from a wide range of styles. Recorded and Mixed by Bob Mills in Guilford, VT.
Anna Patton (clarinet), Bob Mills (guitar & bouzouki), Chuck Corman (bass), Erica Morse (cello & bass) Elvie Miller (piano & accordion), Jesse Hazzard-Watkins (trumpet), lydia ievins (fiddle), Marko Packard (guitar & sax), Naomi Morse (fiddle & viola), Peter Siegel (guitar, mandolin, banjo, & feet), Roger Kahle (guitar), Seth Houston (piano).
Ethan's collection of original tunes, published in 2007, is no longer available in print. You can download a complete PDF of the book or find some individual highlights and more recent compositions below.