Marika Partridge reviews the mandolin dance sounds of Sam Bartlett. His self-produced, instrumental CD Evil Diane features some of America's best unknown acoustic players, fiddlers and pipers. Indiana native Bartlett is a prolific writer, often composing his reels and jigs from the road on his mandolin.
Canadian singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle died Monday at age 63 after a lifetime of making music with her family and friends. She grew up singing old French and Irish tunes with her parents, and went on to perform in a duo with her sister Anna. McGarrigle's children, singers Martha and Rufus Wainwright, now carry on her musical legacy.