photo - Michael G.Stewart

Andrew Vogts

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Andrew Vogts – fiddle
Victor Furtado – banjo
Danny Knicely – guitar
Mark Schatz - bass
Aila Wildman – 2nd fiddle
Eli Wildman – mandolin

Boxing Reel
The Pig and the Devil’s Eye
Durang’s Hornpipe
Dixie
Catharsis
Rosin on the Gourd
Sasquatch with an Alien on Its Head
Bumblebee in a Jug
Spider Shoe
Ashokan Farewell
Sadie at the Back Door

  To tell you the truth, I didn’t know who Andrew Vogts was until I was asked by Patuxent Records owner Tom Mindte to play bass on a solo project of his that Tom was producing. Once I got into the studio and heard him play it was clear that it wouldn’t be long before a lot of folks were going to know the name of this very talented and versatile young fiddler.

  Andrew started developing his chops at age four with Suzuki classical training, and then a passion for traditional fiddling unfolded when he was taken by his mother on a cross-Canada fiddle-train tour hosted by legendary Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser. Since then he has been inspired by and studied with the likes of Bruce Molsky, Mark O’Connor, Jeremy Kittel, and Brittany Haas. He has attended fiddle camps, played on the streets with Gypsies in Budapest, won prestigious fiddle contests such as Clifftop and Galax, and did a guest spot on electric fiddle with the Beach Boys in July 2016. Quite a broad range of experience for a lad of just fifteen! Credit should be given to his mother, Annette, who encouraged her son, placed opportunities in his path, and of course tirelessly provided transport.

  This project mainly features the traditional side of Andrew’s musical persona, and he is accompanied by the musicians in his band with the colorful name of The Psycho Exploding Orangutans. No monkey business here, though. His association with clawhammer banjo wiz, Victor Furtado, with whom there are several duets here, goes back to 2010 when they met at a competition in Berlin, MD. The synergy between these two with the classic fiddle and banjo combo is electric. Appearing on several tracks are brother and sister, Eli and Aila Wildman, on mandolin and fiddle who have joined Andrew and Victor more recently at competitions and festivals. Rounding out the ensemble for this recording are veterans Danny Knicely on guitar and me on string bass. It’s pretty rocking – enjoy!

Mark Schatz

 
           
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