NORTHUMBRIAN MUSIC
NIGHTS
What they're saying about
Bart Ramsey & Neti Vaan'
Bart Ramsey on piano, guitar and vocals, and
Neti Vaan' on fiddle and vocals, have cooked up a
well-seasoned musical melting pot of original
American songs and border-hopping fiddle tunes.
Expect anything from Texas two-steps and Saturday
night waltzes, to Roots-rock ballads and New
Orleans-style piano gumbaroombas, served up with
with and spontaneity. " . . . tasty and accomplished bluesy, jazz, and
cajun-tinged" acoustic roots. " . . . fiddler
extraordinaire . . ." -- TIME OUT -- London
Since the time they started working together in
1994, Bart and Neti have divided their time between
the USA and the UK. In 1996 they released the
album "Zing Zang" recorded in New Orleans. Bart and Neti have just begun work on a new CD,
and will be returning to Britain in the summer and
fall of 1998.
is a prolific composer with many tales to tell
and a keen sense of humour. His finely crafted and
inspired lyrics are supported by musical
arrangements that blend together the instrumental
and vocal strengths of both performers. Originally
from Chicago, Bart has lived in New Orleans for
over fifteen years. His playing style on piano and
guitar is rooted in the swampy rhythms of his
adopted home, and coloured by his extensive travels
in Europe and Latin America. Offbeat
magazine in New Orleans described his voice
as "one of those vintage whiskey and dust-soaked
baritones." Bart's solo album "Prince of Sanity,"
produced by Louie Ludwig and Anders Osborned in New
Orleans, features many fine local musicians. It
got the thumbs up from British magazine Rolk
Roots. "A fine, strutting roots rock set
by a bloke firmly anchored in the Delta."
Rock 'n' Reel adds that Ramsey
"manages to adopt a cleverly contemporary groove,
with jazz flavours jostling for your attention
amongst sharply attractive melodies."
is well known on the British folk scene as a
fiddler to be reckoned with, and she accompanies
Bart's songs with inimitable style and swing. She
draws on her extensive repertoire of traditional
fiddle tunes, including Texas reels and rags,
Mexican pasodobles, Cajun waltzes, original
compositions and more. As well as providing
spot-on harmonies, her vocal contributions range
from off-beat western swing numbers to passionate
conciones. After six years of honing her skills as
a busker on sidewalks from New Orleans to San
Francisco, living in a converted Dodge van as a
modern day nomad, Neti moved to London in 1987.
She was a founding member of the British folk roots
bands Companions of the Rosy Hours, Bill Caddick's
Urban Legend, and Zumzeaux (whose CD, "Blazing
Fiddles", was described as "exceptional" by Q
Magazine). She has toured throughout the Uk over
the past ten years, appearing at art centres, folk
clubs, village halls and most major festivals, as
well as on BBC radio and TV. In addition to making
albums with her own bands, Neti has recorded with
such artists as Michelle Schocked, Rory McLeod, Aly
Bain, and Andy Cronshaw. She accompanied the
renowned American tap-dancer / clogger Ira
Bernstein on five of his British tours.
TRANSATLANTIC MUSIC DUO:
Britain's Rock 'n' Reel called it "an
invigorating work of quality that overflows with
their individual and collective talents."
