Thank you for visiting Cottonwoodsings Music: Violin~fiddle events, recordings, concerts & performances around the Pacific Northwest!

For detailed concert updates & further info, please contact by mail: p.o. box 1121 Astoria Oregon 97103-1121); or email: cottonwoodsings@hotmail.com

Violinist & composer Jeffrey Reynolds will play sweet violin & fiddle music for your event, restaurant, holiday, wedding, party, exhibit, gallery & grand opening.... Truly extraordinary tone & violin technique find him welcome in ensembles ranging from classical string quartets & symphony orchestras through opera, ballet & musical theater; Gypsy jazz through modern & original world-premier chamber music, fiddle-folk dance bands, as a celebrated street musician; & with six-string electric violin & effects for free jazz to Rock & Roll to Roots Reggae!

Happy Peak of Spring!

UPCOMING CONCERTS & EVENTS:

SWING CATS at CLEMENTE'S (12th and Commercial in downtown Astoria) Sundays from 5 to 8pm... Swing Cats play Gypsy & Hot Club jazz, familiar standards from every era, original & improvised music!

FREE OPEN AIR VIOLIN-FIDDLE MUSIC will sound in happy harmony with Summer melodies of feathery friends ~ basking in startling sunshine... sounding clearly in concert halls, fine restaurants, local galleries, & fair weather walks ranging from Cannon Beach, Seaside, & Astoria to Ashland Portland & Seattle...

Thomasian Trio plays Thursday evenings at the 'Lil Bayou in Seaside from 6-9pm, with Reynolds on violin among regular weekly guests...

EMLEN & REYNOLDS DUO perform concerts spanning centuries of classical, folk & original arrangements in authentic costume with music ranging from Thomas Jefferson's library to fiddling and songs from the trail of the Lewis & Clark Expedition... Cello, Violin, Guitar, Jew's Harp, Vocals, & Percussion combine with lively & historical tales for another season of surprise concerts for guests & patrons of natural history Lewis & Clark water trail & kayaking adventures in Skamokawa WA; with EXPLORITAS (formerly Elderhostel) ~ generously hosted in 2009 & 2010 by the Inn at Lucky Mud, the Inn at Crippen Creek Farm, & Columbia River Kayaking ~ April through October ~ For specific information about the current season of Exploritas programs available, & including these concerts, please visit: www.Exploritas.org ....Currently presenting the "Kayaking the Lower Columbia River" (Exploration & Discovery, program #2288AU) with ongoing events through October 2010... www.Exploritas.org, www.columbiariverkayaking.com, www.luckymud.com, www.crippencreek.com

On the horizon for the 200th anniversary of Astoria...Cottonwoodsings Music will present historical & informative performances featuring fiddle music of the era in the spirit of Jeremiah Tuller: infamous "Fiddler of Clatsop Plains"

Cottonwoodsings music seeks to simultaneously sound strings in air with extraordinary dexterity through high vibration, friction & sympathetic resonance while playing musical monuments to the art of the violin-fiddle * honoring centuries of tradition within moments of mystery * forging the unknown with mercurial momentary & monolithic compositions * loving sounds in honor of the myriad connections between Violins, Salmon & Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) * ultimately echoing the musical tendencies of the Black Cottonwoods (Populus trichocarpa), whom are revered in ceremony & drop living limbs forming hollow venerable spaces within resonating ever more with sounds around...

Unique creative music ensembles with Violin-fiddle always at the ready for 2010 : the ongoing EMLEN & REYNOLDS DUO (featuring centuries of classical, folk & original music concerts, in costume for music from Thomas Jefferson's library to music from the trail of the Lewis & Clark Expedition... Cello, Violin, Guitar, Jew's Harp, Vocals, & Percussion combine for Educational & Natural History Concert Programs & Exploritas music & adventure programs) * * Reynolds now playing with the SWING CATS, & with other ensembles & orchestras, such as the Thomasian Trio * * GHOST VIOLINCE (acoustic & amplified-effects-modulated violin solos & duos spanning centuries, & featuring original compositions) * * HUMOURS OF CIRCUMSTANCE (Traditional Celtic-Irish music dance band) * * Violin & fiddle music will continue to sound for weddings, concerts, streets, restaurants & stages, educational programs, retirement & nursing facilities, birthdays, parades & beach bonfires througout the year...

Every day we raise awareness of our shared responsibility and potential for understanding: ~Why not seek to illuminate these essential connections among us, not so different as we might seem? & so look even between * SALMON ~ SPRUCE ~ MUSIC *

Recent & past concerts & events include:

Cannon Beach annual Earth Day Parade & gathering, April 24, 2010; Regular concerts & guest appearances with the Swing Cats (Sundays at Clemente's in Astoria) & the Thomasian Trio (Thursdays at the 'Lil Bayou in Seaside); Violin-fiddle Music in celebration of good local food & community: April 10th, ASTORIA COOPERATIVE; THOMASIAN TRIO played with special guests as the Thomasian Orchestra at the 'Lil Bayou in Seaside- pure joy in music with Guitars, Bass, Harmonica, Sax & Violin on Thursday March 25- looking forward to more; Reynolds a Cat?? Yes! Now playing most Sundays with the SWING CATS at Clemente's from 5-8pm; Traditional Irish-Celtic music on St. Patrick's Day music for residents & family at the Astor House; MA BARLEY played for the Fort George Brewery anniversary on March 14 2010; Violin-fiddle music in the atrium for "WEDDINGS at the BEACH" Fifth annual Bridal and Wedding Show at the Seaside Civic & Convention Center February 20, 2010; Ma Barley played in celebration of Bob Marley's Birthday for the annual KMUN (91.9FM) sponsored concert at the Astoria Event Center (this year a day early on February 5); LUCIA FESTIVAL of LIGHTS Friday November 27 benefit for the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Scholarship Fund, Jeffrey played Metsakkukia (Forest Flower), & joined with Coreen Bergholm & the Scandinavian Country Band for seasonal & traditional music; November 21, MA BARLEY opened for International Reggae superstars EEK A MOUSE! at the Astoria Event Center; November 14, Ma Barley played as part of the 3 band line-up in celebration of birthdays & to raise funds for local low-income students; MA BARLEY heated up the "Hellorium" & green room at the latest new Fort George building with a Halloween music & dance partay!; Violin music sounded in participation with "CLIMATE 350" International Day of Climate Action events on October 24, 2009 at T. Anjuli's Salon & Gallery in Seaside, & later at the Astoria Performing Arts Center; EMLEN & REYNOLDS DUO presented a season of concerts for guests & patrons of ELDERHOSTEL with natural history, Lewis & Clark, & kayaking adventures in Skamokawa WA throughout 2009; SWING CATS invited Reynolds to join at CLEMENTE'S on several recent (and ongoing) Sundays; EMLEN & REYNOLDS DUO played for the Gray's River Covered Bridge Dinner, October 3, 2009: (fundraiser for the local 4-H); Violin music accompanied a ceremony & festivities enlivened with the wind at ECOLA STATE PARK on September 26; MA BARLEY played on September 12th at the Warrenton KOA... HEATHER CHRISTIE BAND played a free concert at the Cannon Beach Legion Hall where the SPIRIT OF MUTUAL HELPFULNESS is honored by all US Armed Services...EMLEN & REYNOLDS DUO play music for the Puget Island FARMER'S MARKET, recent Friday's from 3 to 6PM - Puget Island Farmer's Markets continue into October...Cottonwoodsings Violin Street Music sounded during rare Astoria August sunshine; SWING CATS on some Summer Sunday evenings at CLEMENTE'S... HEATHER CHRISTIE BAND played a reunion concert as part of the KMUN-KTCB 5 Year broadcasting celebration on August 29th at the Nehalem Fire Hall... Jeffrey joined in music with Amber Lee Donahue August 22 2009 in a BENEFIT CONCERT for the Cannon Beach Food Pantry at Cannon Beach City Park; Violin music sounded at CLEMENTE'S (12th & Commercial in Astoria) Saturday August 15th for a SALMON=VIOLIN?? concert; Free outdoor music in front of Cannon Beach's LOCAL GRILL & SCOOP, CANNON BEACH BAKERY, PIZZA 'A FETTA and in a handful of Sunny Astoria street concerts; A rare VIOLINCE DUO formed with Violinist: Gabriel Kastelle for music at CLEMENTE'S restaurant in Astoria on July 21; MA BARLEY played inside the foot of the Megler Bridge @ the COLUMBIA RIVER COFFEE ROASTERS on Saturday July 11th; MA BARLEY @ the July 4th Fort George Brewery outdoor _BQ dance party; Emlen & Reynolds Duo (in costume) at Fort Stevens State Park for student groups on May 20 2009, whom sang songs back to E & R to honor the Expedition; MA BARLEY played for the Seaside Heights Elementary annual picnic on May 15 2009; Solo violin & fiddle music for Mother's Day Teas, May 7-8 2009 at NECANICUM VILLAGE in Seaside; "Earth, Wind & Sea" music for Cannon Beach Earth Day observances in downtown CB; "WEDDINGS at the BEACH" 2009 BRIDAL SHOW March 21 2009 at the McMenamins Sandtrap in Gearhart; HUMOURS OF CIRCUMSTANCE Irish fiddle music in celebration of St. Patrick's Day at Seaside's NECANICUM VILLAGE & Astoria's CLATSOP CARE CENTER March 17 2009; Violin music for CLEMENTE'S anniversary dinner, March 13 2009; HUMOURS of CIRCUMSTANCE played for the second year in a row at the IRISH FEST auction and fund raiser hosted by the Warrenton Sunrise Rotary and the Astoria Chamber of Commerce; Violin & fiddle music sounded at CLEMENTE'S restaurant in Astoria during January & February; EMLEN & REYNOLDS DUO played for the February edition of the Blue Scorcher "Classical Brunch" series; VALENTINE's evening concert of violin & viola music at CLEMENTE'S; MA BARLEY Reggae Band (Yes! with fiddle!) played for BOB MARLEY'S BIRTHDAY 10th ANNUAL REGGAE PARTY; Solo violin for theTillamook Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet; New Year's Eve 2008-2009: RAW BARLEY (the Ma Barley skeleton crew) at the Fort George Brewery & Public House; Music & stage roles for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF with Peninsula Association of Performing Artists (PAPA), the Water Music Festival, & Hill Top Auditorium; Happy Hour trio at Suzanne Elise; Fall violin concert at the Clatsop Care Center; free open air concerts on the streets of Cannon Beach; Emlen and Reynolds Duo with their show: "Corelli to Cruzzate, Music of the Lewis and Clark Era"; Con Amici Chamber Players; Solo electronic & acoustic solo violin music: Ghost Violince (with "bumtech" at Astoria's Fort George Brewery), "Bach and Beyond" concert at the Liberty Theater; "Fiddler on the Roof" with the Peninsula Players at Washington's historic Fort Columbia theater; Outdoor music at the Cathlamet Farmer's Market; Music for the annual Gray's River Covered Bridge Dinner; Celtic fiddle music for the Sunrise Rotary 2008 Irish Fest fund raiser at Camp Rilea; St. Patrick's Day 2007 music at the Clatsop Care Center; "A Christmas Carol" final performance with the late and much missed River Theater, December 2006; Infamous Violince ensemble, Fall 2006 at the Astoria Coffee House

My deepest appreciation and thanks in honor of experiences with my recent colleagues in every musical endeavor: Swing Cats, Ma Barley, the PAPA skeleton crew for FIDDLER, Con Amici, Red Venus Love Army, Heather Christie Band, the Violince duo(s), the Emlen & Reynolds duo, and the Humours of Circumstance

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU For their impressive support of music- special thanks to: My extended family; Teachers: Schnore, Foster, Fischer, Nobori, Price, Stern, Farmer, and Blumberg (Et. al.); Portland Public Schools, Portland Parks & Recreation, & Community Music Center; Portland Youth Philharmonic; Young Musicians & Artists; Willowbrook Center for the Advancement of Human Potential; the CITY OF CANNON BEACH; the Surfrider Foundation; the State of Oregon; Linn county Historical Society; Washington State Historical Society; U.S. Mint; National Parks Service Fort Clatsop, Fort Vancouver, Fort Canby, and Fort Columbia; the Linn County Historical Society; Seaside Museum and Historical Society; Clatsop County Cultural Coalition; Robert Reid; Peninsula Association of Performing Artists (PAPA); Espy House; Peninsula Players; Oysterville Church; Cathlamet's Pioneer Church; Astoria's Grace Episcopal; Skamokawa Center; Water Music Festival; Shelburne Inn and Shoalwater Restaurant; Bergeson Tile & Stone, Lower Columbia Clinic, FinnFest '06, Women's Resource Center, Clatsop Community College, Astoria Coffeehouse, Columbian Cafe Voodoo Room, the River Theater, TLCFCU, Hipfish monthly, KMUN 91.9 FM, Astoria Performing Arts, Rays of Violet, Cascadia Academy, Clatsop Care Center, Thompson's Instrument Repair of Astoria, and the Liberty Theater; (the former) Guido and Vito's Italian Eatery, Goose Hollow II, Gibbs Centre for Natural Healing, Suzanne Elise and Necanicum Village of Seaside; Cannon Beach's Stephanie Inn, Mariner Market, Cannon Beach Bakery, The Landing, Local Grill & Scoop, Pizza 'a Fetta, Osbourne's, Bill's Tavern and Brewhouse, and the extraordinary coastal public performance spaces everywhere! (...and many more yet unmentioned!) THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

© HUMOURS OF CIRCUMSTANCE, CON AMICI, THUJA STRING QUARTET, infamous VIOLINCE, COTTONWOODSINGS, GHOST VIOLINCE: ...*all rights reserved *...

Photo credits: Todd Bishop, Terry Erickson, David Lee Myers, Jeffrey Reynolds

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