Quickstep: John Kirk, Trish Miller, Ed Lowman, Sara Milonovich & Cedar Stanistreet
Lively fiddle tunes, folksongs and fancy footwork are featured in a concert with Quickstep. This quintet is from Saratoga Springs, NY, near the Adirondack mountains, and they play a diverse repertoire of original and old-time music. These five musicians have played together for almost two decades and they each have other musical work as well. Many selections are rooted in the local lore of the Adirondacks and northeast woodlands. Their fiddle band appeals to audiences of all ages with quick-pickin’ tunes, harmonies, sentimental songs and percussive clog dancing. Jazz at Lincoln Center and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs selected Mountain Quickstep (John, Trish, Sara & Greg Anderson), for the 2011-12 season of The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad program.
Imagine four fiddles and a guitar harmonizing and fiddling up a storm…these artists are multi-instrumentalists and exchange guitar, banjo, mandolin, tin whistle and syncopated rhythm steps as part of their shows. The variety of songs offered are humorous, old fashioned, story-telling, original, popular and poetic. Together they provide entertainment for concerts, dances, schools and special occasions.
John Kirk is known for his lyric voice and versatile instrumental skills. On fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, keyboard and tin whistle, John demonstrates a vast knowledge of musical traditions. He is also a composer, dancer and dance caller. He and his wife, Trish, have their own recordings and John has contributed to over one hundred more. In addition to performing, John teaches music at Bennington College in Vermont and at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. He has always made his living as a musician and songwriter. In addition to his work with Trish, he works with the Susquehanna Stringband, the Dawnland Singers and the Vanaver Caravan. For almost ten years John worked with Walt Michael & Co. He can be heard on TV and recording projects with Jay Ungar, Molly Mason and other notable musicians. The Dixie Chicks recorded his song, “Long Roads”. Together John and Trish have also taught at many music camps and played for special events.
Trish Miller has been teaching and performing Appalachian clogging since 1980. She plays guitar, banjo and mandolin. She also calls dances and has choreographed country routines for theater and concerts. Her dance education is rooted in the southern mountains with more contemporary influences from tap and Celtic styles. Trish learned from the Green Grass Cloggers, from Asheville, N.C., and toured with them internationally as well as across the U.S. Since 1985 Trish and John have been working together as teaching artists in school music and dance programs. Trish organizes these arts in education ventures and also teaches banjo at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Ed Lowman is a multi-instrumentalist and singer. Old-time and Cajun fiddling, yodeling, early country songs, guitar, bass and carpentry are his trades. In addition to working with John Kirk and Trish Miller since 1984, Ed has appeared with several groups including Dan Berggren and the St. Regis Stringband. For thirty years now, Ed has been the coordinator of summertime square dances in the Adirondack village of Schroon Lake.
Sara Milonovich is a singer, fiddler, composer and band leader . She’s a sought-after accompanist for artists in many musical genres. Sara has performed throughout the US & Europe in Americana, roots, folk-rock, bluegrass, Celtic & Appalachian styles. Her CD, 'Daisycutter', released in 2009, was a nominated Grammy semifinalist. As a child, Sara learned many fiddle tunes from sessions with the ‘Adirondack Fiddlers’ Club’. In addition to playing with Quickstep, she is known for playing with the McKrells, Cathy Ryan, Richard Shindell & Greg Anderson. More information about Sara is available at www.saramilonovich.com
Cedar Stanistreet has been playing violin & fiddle styles in major concerts since he was nine years old. He studied classical violin at Crane School of Music in New York, where he graduated with honors in 2007. At present he is learning violin making in Boston, MA, at the North Bennet St. School. He plays for dances with the Boston based band, Noreaster. His spirited, rhythmic playing and clear tone keep dancers on their feet. More information about Cedar is available at www.noreasterband.com/index.html
For more information about Quickstep - please check out www.johnandtrish.com
