more about SPARE PARTS . . .

some of our favorite SPARE PARTS:

Frank Orsini lives in Glens Falls, NY, and has been fiddling for contradances in New York state and New England since the 1970s. He's popular for his danceable rhythm, fiddlistic improvisation and wonderful harmonies. His versatility extends to Swing, Bluegrass, Cajun, English and various Celtic styles. Frank also plays with the Whippersnappers, Walt Michael and Co., Saratoga Faire, the Upstate Bluegrass Band and others. He joins Spare Parts for contras, English dances and Civil War balls and performs with us on The Civil War Ballroom CD.

Now living in Brattleboro, VT, Lissa Schneckenburger is an amazingly talented fiddler and singer who puts her original spin on traditional music. She is adept at many different fiddle styles and also performs with Phantom Power, Spin and Halali. (photo: Robert Bennett)

North Adams' Eric Buddington switches effortlessly between fiddle and violin. He excels at Argentine tangos, waltzes and milongas; he also joins Spare Parts for Regency balls, Ragtime balls, and English country dances as well as contras. He performs with us on The Regency Ballroom CD. Formerly with the Flying Garbanzos, Eric also performs with several other ensembles.

Seattle-based Ruthie Dornfeld plays contras and couples dances with Spare Parts. She performs ragtime music with us on our Now Tango CD. She's fluent in a wide range of styles from Celtic and old-time to Scandinavian and Eastern European. Ruthie has performed and taught for 30 years at festivals, schools, music and dance camps throughout the U.S. and abroad. Ruthie also plays in the French cabaret band Rouge. (photo: Anne Hamersky)

Mark Bagdon of Delmar, NY, switches effortlessly from from fiddle rags to Strauss waltzes. He performs Ragtime and Gilded Age balls with Spare Parts, as well as contras and English dances and even Argentine tango milongas. Mark also performs with the Clefhangers.
(photo: Ted Crane ©2001)

Famous for dynamic fiddling, George Wilson has been entertaining contradancers and concertgoers since the late 1970s. His playing is strongly influenced by Cape Breton and French Canadian styles He's a multi-instrumental virtuoso and singer who also performes with Fennig’s All-Stars, the Whippersnappers, Selma Kaplan and Taconic Tonic. Liz and Bill appear on his Northern Harmonies cd. (photo: Bill Matthiesen)

Donny MacLean of Ancram, NY, has been playing dances since the 1970s and was involved in the revival of contradancing in New England. His waltz playing is sublime. He adds exquisite fiddling to Spare Parts in the winter months when work in his fruit orchards allows, and when he's not playing with Mountain Laurel.
(photo: Ted Crane ©2002)

Seattle fiddler Cathie Whitesides joins Liz and Bill for couples dances and contras on their annual Seattle tour. She spins out fiddle traditions from Eastern Europe to East Texas. Cathie also performs with Laurie Andres and Bob McQuillen, the Balkan Kafe Orchestra, and Hank Bradley.
(photo: Ted Crane ©2002)