Notes From Celtistan

Benjy Wertheimer and Michael Mandrell

Notes from Celtistan (Wolf Club Music, 2007)

As the title of the CD suggests, this seductive CD, recorded in concert and live in the studio, brings together the music from the Celtic lands and Indian music. The two multi-instrumentalists, Benjy Wertheimer and Michael Mandrell, play evocative melodic instrumental pieces where guitar plays the leading role, accompanied by fiery tabla. One can find a wide variety of influences in the duo’s music, ranging from the folk guitar of Leo Kottke to Oregon’s new acoustic excursions and Zakir Hussain‘s world fusion.

Benjy Wertheimer is an award-winning songwriter, vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist who plays tabla, congas, percussion, esraj, guitar, and keyboards. Benjy has toured and recorded with Krishna Das, Deva Premal and Miten, Jai Uttal, and Walter Becker (Steely Dan). A founding member of the internationally acclaimed Ancient Future world fusion music ensemble, Benjy toured the U.S., Canada, and Japan with renowned bamboo flute master G.S. Sachdev. His CD "Circle of Fire" reached #1 on the New Age radio charts in November 2002.

Michael Mandrell honed his open-tuning guitar chops in the early 80’s on the Texas folk circuit, performing with Celtic string bands and many great acoustic artists. From these humble folk music origins his style has emerged as an eclectic fusion of world music, the guitar becoming a small orchestra in his hands. Featured often on Echoes and many other radio shows as well. Michael tours regionally and nationally, opening for such acts as Spyro Gyra, William Ackerman of Windham Hill and the California Guitar Trio.

 

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