Volga Notions
NEFFA News Review

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NEFFA News, Winter 2001
Review by Dan Pearl
KGB, Volga Notions, Mole Records CD 099
Also reviewed: Moving Violations, Faster Than a Walk, Great Meadow Music GMM 2009]

Now it can be revealed: Contra dance bands use cheap tricks to get reactions out of the dancers. Some tricks get the dancers smiling or singing along. It's hard for the 40-something dancers to resist singing along to the theme song from Mr. Ed. The Holy Grail of dancer reactions is the "Woo!". Bands just wanna make the dancers go "Woo!!". This can happen when the band changes tunes from an insipid jig to a driving reel, or with an artful key-change in a medley.

It can also happen when something totally unexpected -- something, well..."foreign" -- happens. The first time I experienced this phenomenon was with the band Yankee Ingenuity at the Concord Scout House some time in the mid-'80's. To my surprise and delight they played a Romanian folk dance tune. It was exhilarating, even though the phrasing of the tune made it a little difficult to dance to.

Over the years, more bands started incorporating numbers that were direct lifes from the International Folk Dance scene. Bands would develop a specialty number glenaed from foreign cultures, like Klezmer, Hungary or the Balkans, for instance. Later, domestic composers were inspired to craft new tunes that incorporate foreign motifs. Some bands like the two in this review, have embrace this trend in forming their "sound".

[review of Moving Violations recording omitted]

Following a similar track, but on the West coast, is the band KGB (formed from the letters of the band member's last names: Julie King, Claude Ginsburg, and Dave Bartley). They have released two extraordinary albums of dance/listening music.

Their latest release, "Volga Notions -- Contradance Music for the Critical Masses", continues in the tradition established by their first album "Contra-intelligence" of wit combined with expert musicianship, emotion and textures.

There are a few familiar traditional tunes ("Frenchies Reel", "Sligo Creek", "High Reel") but they serve more as breathers and departure points for the band's signature tunes rather than showpieces in themselves. The highlight material is often composed by the band members, and incorporates musical motifs from Russia, the Mideast and the Balkans.

My favorite medley composed of four tunes by Dave Bartley begins with about 30 seconds of mood-noodling on a mandolin, sounding not unlike a balalaika. Four strong strums introduces the tune "Volga Notions". There aren't many jigs in the Russian traditional dance music repertoire, but this sounds as though it could be one of them, with its minor mode echoes of countless Russian tunes. The next tune, "Craggy Dome", another minor jig, serves as a good transition tune, not upstaging the following material. A seamless transition brings us into a reel "I-5 Corridor", in minor for the A parts, but major for the B parts. By this time, the musicians are really starting to show their stuff. The last tune, "The Outback", a major reel features some great syncopation and great playing. Fans of fiddler Claude Ginsburg's signature high countermelodies will enjoy his work here. This cut, at 8 minutes and 36 seconds, just blew me away. Woo!

Is it boredom with the regular repertoire, or the indulging in a musical wanderlust that drives these two bands? It doesn't really matter. Just redeem those frequent-flyer miles and enjoy the ride.