Lullabies, Traditional Songs & Classical Tunes

Lullabies, Traditional Songs & Classical Tunes Submitted by: Pat Tynan Media Monday, 25 October 2004

Hilary James & Simon Mayor www.acousticsrecords.co.uk + www.mandolin.co.uk Two albums from one of Britain’s finest musical partnerships A bedtime collection of traditional songs and classical tunes Lullabies With Mandolins CDACS 049 NEW ALBUM! Simon Mayor and Hilary James' long awaited new album for children: a bedtime collection of traditional songs and classical tunes graced by Hilary's sublime vocals and laced with Simon's peerless mandolin playing. This is definitely one for the Mums and Dads too. Tracklist: Lavender's Blue; Pieds en-l'air, Fais Dodo, All The Pretty Little Horses, Over The Hills And Far Away, Grieg's Cradle Song, Dance To Your Daddy, Andante from Vivaldi's Mandolin Concerto, Golden Slumbers, Schubert's Cradle Song, Hush-A-Bye Baby, Raisins and Almonds, German Cradle Song. ~#~#~#~#~#~#~ A collection of original and traditional songs and tunes Laughing With The Moon CDACS 047 NEW ALBUM! Hilary James & Simon Mayor's latest studio album is a mixture of traditional and original songs and tunes, including a Playford Dance, Carolan's Concerto, heart-rending traditional ballads and lively reels. With guests Frank Kilkelly (guitar), Phil Fentimen (guitar & double bass), Alan Whetton (soprano saxophone) and Simon Price (drums). Tracklist: The Dream, The Reel Thing, The Shearing's Not For You, Hunt The Squirrel/Long Odds, Newcastle, Carolan's Concerto, Andrew Lammie, Hey! Johnny Cope/Athol Highlanders, Fireflies, Laughing With The Moon, Shenandoah. Both albums available now, distributed by RSK/BMG ~#~#~#~#~#~#~ Virtuoso mandolin, elegant vocals, guitar and fiddle wizardry, and a stage show that ranges from witty to hilarious. October: Fri. 22 Thornford Village Hall, Pound Rd, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 6RB Box Office 01935 873762 TP £6/£4 DO 7.30

Page 1 Sat. 23 The Portman Village Hall, Shillingstone, Dorset. Box Office 01258 860784 TP £6/£4 DO 7.30pm Sun. 24 Tarrant Keyneston, Dorset Box Office 01258 480778 TP £6/£4 DO 7.30pm NB. 22- 24 Dates sponsored by Artsreach Rural Touring Tickets for all 3 events £6/£4. £16 Family ticket. Fri. 29 The Wharfe, Canal Road, Tavistock, Devon. Box Office 01822 611166 TP £10 DO 8:00pm November: Sat 6 Steeple Aston Village Hall, Southside, Steeple Aston, Bicester, Oxon OX6 3RR Box Office 01869 340485 TP £10/£8 DO 7.30pm Sat 20 Chesterton Primary School, Alchester Road, Chesterton, Bicester, Oxon OX26 IUN Box Office 01869 241019 or 252904 or 250051 TP£8/£6 DO 7.30pm Sat 27 Eye & Dunsden Village Hall, Dunsden Green, Dunsden nr Sonning, Oxon RG4 9GG Box Office 0118 9478812 TP £12 DO 7.30pm Hilary James & Simon Mayor Hilary James was one of the first musicians to set up her own label back in 1979, and has since released a total of twenty two albums, as well as a catalogue of best selling music books and videos with long-time partner, Britain's leading mandolin virtuoso Simon Mayor. Indeed their names are usually mentioned in the same breath: they have played on each other's albums and run bands together since the mid 70s. Bands like Slim Panatella and the Mellow Virginians, Mandolinquents and, going back to their first student band, Spredthick gained them early national acclaim with headlines in the Melody Maker, an appearance on the main stage at the Cambridge Festival and first place in a national music competition. They have gone on to appear at festivals and concerts across the globe from Seattle to Singapore. Quintessentially English, they easily cross the great musical divides from British ballads to blues and Berlioz. If they have a speciality, it's an ability to perform a truly diverse array of music with respect and affection held together by humourous introductions. There can’t be many performers who slide easily from a beautifully evocative Irish ballad into a mandolin and guitar version of Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba and then have the audience singing one of their own notorious comic songs, but it’s this wry humour and an easy informal stage manner that holds it all together. Possessed of "one of Britain's finest voices" Hilary is also a fine instrumentalist, self-taught on double bass and guitar, who rarely appears these days without her amazing mandobass.

Page 2 Whilst Hilary has the vision driving the business, Simon is the technical brains behind the Acoustics studio where they produce most of their output for the label. Back in 1976, with a degree in Fine Art and a post graduate teaching qualification, Hilary decided to pursue a career in music. Following their early success they went on to present and write for BBC music education programmes for six years and have since written over sixty songs for children producing five albums in their Musical Mystery Tour series. Although Hilary chose music first she is still a keen artist and illustrator her cartoons adorn the covers of the Musical Mystery Tour CDs. She is currently working on a series of illustrations for a Musical Mystery Tour children's picture book for publication in 2005 She and Simon are determined to maintain a keen involvement in music education for children, performing in schools whenever possible. In 1992, Faber Music published a book of their songs which Hilary illustrated. For further information contact Pat Tynan Phone 01895 636935 Mobile 07985 400297 [email protected] Pat Tynan Media PO Box 785 Ickenham Uxbridge Middlesex England UB10 8WQ Office: +44 (0) 1895 636935 Mobile 07985 400297

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