Hi How Are You Today? [Special Edition]

Personnel: Ashley MacIsaac (vocals, fiddle, piano); Michael Phillip Wojewoda (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, percussion); Mary Jane Lamond (vocals); Gordie Sampson (acoustic guitar); Gordie Johnson (electric guitar, guitar); Stuart Cameron (electric guitar); Pete Prilesnik (guitar, dobro, acoustic bass, bass, programming); Ian Blurton (guitar); Scott Long (bagpipes); Joel Chiasson (piano); Chris Brown (Clavinet, piano, organ); Matthew DeMatteo (Wurlitzer, drums, programming); Chin Injeti, Ed Woodworth, Victor Bateman (bass); Graeme Kirkland (drums, buckets); Adam Dowling (drums, percussion); Al Cross (drums); Juri Konje (triangle, percussion); Gerry Devau (spoons); Alex Greggs (drum programming).
Quartetto Gelato: Peter De Sotto (violin); Claudio Vena (viola); George Meanwell (cello); Cynthia Steljes (oboe).
Jale: Jennifer Pierce, Eve Hartling (vocals, guitar); Laura Stein (vocals, bass); Allison McLeod (drums).
Producers: Michael Phillip Wojewoda, Pete Prilesnik.
Engineers: Michael Phillip Wojewoda, Pete Prilesnik.
Personnel: Ashley MacIsaac (vocals, fiddle, piano, sampler); Eve Hartling, Jennifer Pierce (vocals, guitar); Laura Stein, Mary Jane Lamond (vocals); Gordie Johnson (guitar, electric guitar); Pete Prilesnik (guitar, dobro, acoustic bass, bass guitar, programming); Ian Blurton (guitar); Gordie Sampson (acoustic guitar); Stuart Cameron (electric guitar); Peter DeSotto (violin); Claudio Vena (viola); George Meanwell (cello); Scott Long (bagpipe); Cynthia Steljes (oboe); Chris Brown (piano, Clavinet, organ); Joel Chiasson (piano); Matt DeMatteo (Wurlitzer organ, drums, programming); Michael Phillip Wojewoda (keyboards, bass synthesizer, percussion); Chin Injeti, Ed Woodsworth (bass guitar); Adam Dowling (drums, percussion); Alan Gross, Graeme Kirkland, Allison McLeod, Al Cross (drums); Gerry Deveau (spoons); Alexander Greggs (drum programming).
Audio Mixers: Eric Ratz; L. Stuart Young; Pete Prilesnik.
Recording information: Gas Station Studio, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Manta Eastern Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; McClear Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Metalworks, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Phase One Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Presence Sound, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Reaction Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Solar Audio Halifax.
Photographer: Derek Shapton.
Unknown Contributor Role: Graeme Kirkland.
Arrangers: Stuart Cameron; Alan Gross; Adam Dowling; Gordie Sampson; Ed Woodsworth; Joel Chiasson; Mary Jane Lamond; Matt DeMatteo; Pete Prilesnik; Ashley MacIsaac.
Like any crossover musician, this unconventional Canadian fiddler from the East Coast Maritime region risks not being accepted by traditionalists or rockers. If you can get past that, there's great music here. With the help of Big Sugar guitarist Gordie Johnson, the fleet-fingered fiddler comes off on some tracks like a Celtic Mahavishnu Orchestra. At other times, including "Sleepy Maggie" with the haunting Gaelic voice of Mary Jane Lamond, he's downright traditional. A powerful and promising debut. ~ Mark Allan