The Flying Garbanzos Bio, Press and Demo Downloads
The Flying Garbanzos are a four-piece contra dance band from western Massachusetts. We play original, contemporary and traditional instrumental tunes, generally of New England, Celtic, French-Canadian and Appalachian origin. Personnel and instrumentation:
Eric Martin - Fiddle, Viola and Quebecois Foot Percussion
Tony Pisano - Guitar, Mandolin and Piano Accordion
Josh Pisano - Cumbas (Turkish Banjolin) along with Dumbek, Djembe, Bodhran, Ashiko and Other Percussion.
Dale Ott - Upright Bass
We play contra dances, concerts and private parties. Recent appearances include Dancing On The Air, WAMC Public Radio, Albany, NY; SolarFest, Tinmouth VT; The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Mass; Concerts on the Green, Adams, Mass; CC's Cafe Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams; MASS MoCA, North Adams; Porch Music, a local cable-access television show; appearances at food and ethnic festivals in Berkshire County, Massachusetts and many contra dances throughout western Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and eastern New York, including appearances at the Dance Flurry in Saratoga NY, the Brattleboro (VT) Dawn Dance in September 2003 and The Old Songs Festival in Altamont NY in June 2004.
The Flying Garbanzos have released two CDs, Windsor Lake in 2001 and Third Friday Contra in 2003. Both CDs consist of live cuts recorded as a group, with no overdubs or punch-ins.
- WE PLAY REAL MUSIC -
We have over 200 tunes in our repertoire, including jigs, reels, swing tunes, rags, tangoes, waltzes and airs. We play everything from high-energy tunes that get audiences up and dancing to heart-rending laments.
The downloadable demo tunes below have rough production values but demonstrate some of our energy-building techniques and seamless tune transitions. We can play as loud and fast as anyone. As you will hear, however, much of our energy building is the result of more subtle techniques such as key changes, rhythm syncopation, volume modulation, well-planned jig to reel transitions and unique alternate chordings. Our fiddler, Eric Martin, was classically trained on violin and viola and is known for his great technique, rhythmic interpretation and interesting improvisations. In addition, he does Quebecois foot percussion while playing fiddle. Multi-instrumentalist Tony Pisano is the perfect foil for Eric, frequently doubling on instrumental lead or providing counter harmony. Josh Pisano is a hand drummer and percussionist who adds rhythmic variety and punch. Dale Ott provides the steady foundation on bass for them all to work off.
Our hard work and practice on arrangements and techniques is paying off as we find ourselves asked to play more dances and venues, even as we return to old ones. We look forward to hearing from you.
Flying Garbanzos CD Reviews
Seth Rogovoy - Review of Third Friday Contra CD
Published in The Berkshire Eagle April 2003
The North County quartet's recording makes for terrific listening, even for those with no interest in contradancing or no particular fondness for traditional music. Partly what makes the music by the Garbanzos so distinctive is its pancultural sound…The players - fiddler Eric Buddington, guitarist and accordionist Tony Pisano, percussionist Josh Pisano and bassist Dale Ott - also add an easygoing spirit and wit to the arrangements that, while not violating the basically traditional approach of the group -- nor engaging in any blatant attempts at jazzy fusion -- also aren't beholden to pristine tradition.
Linda Dailey Paulson - Review of Third Friday Contra CD
Published in Dirty Linen August 2003
The Flying Garbanzos play a style of contradance music that is uniquely their own. In this recording of live performances, we hear 14 sets that mix traditional music with a bit of new thinking. Sure, most traditional instruments are played by the quartet - a mix of fiddle, guitar, accordion, mandolin, and bass - but they add percussion…There's a quixotically arranged version of Ragtime Annie and a very nice tune titled Leaving Friday Harbor. Other sets mix Celtic, French-Canadian and old-timey tunes.
Joe Manning - Review of Windsor Lake CD
Published in The Berkshire Advocate October 2001
Since I picked up Windsor Lake from the guys at the Bean in August, it has taken over the CD player in my car. The simple recording process results in a natural sound that you don't hear in today's high-tech world. The instrumentals, which Ott describes as "mostly jigs and reels," and Pisano characterizes as "Celtic with some Latin-style rhythms" are irresistibly warm and tuneful. They sound perfect on my frequent drives over the hills from Florence to North Adams.
Unsolicited comments from organizers, callers and dancers
From Paul Rosenberg, caller and organizer of the Dance Flurry, November 2001
I gave your name and phone # to Cindy who books the Montpelier dance…I hope she books you sometime soon…I think you guys have a good thing happening, and you could go a long ways in the "contra world" if you kept working at it.
I'll also pass your name on to all the dance contacts I know - whenever I get around to talking to them - to book Flying Garbanzos!
From Gail Griffith, caller
I had a WONDERFUL time working with you guys last night! Your tempos were perfect, your arrangements were exciting, your musicianship was excellent, and you were right with me every step of the way. You guys are a joy. Thank you for asking me to call with you, and I'd love to work with you again.
From Chris Elkinton, co-organizer of the South Amherst Massachusetts dance
Thanks again for putting on such a great dance on Saturday. Everyone I have talked to since is still raving about it! I hope we can get you all back to this valley again sometime!
From Lisa Sieverts, dancer and caller (after the Brattleboro Dawn Dance)
I want to congratulate you all on your awesome Dawn Dance debut. Your early AM set was perfect: dreamy enough to keep us in our dance trance, rocking enough to keep us awake and happy.
I'm going to single out Josh for special mention this time: those drums provided a lovely foundation for dance improvisation. I especially appreciate that you respect the sanctity of the fundamental beat of the music (not all contra drummers do).
But that's not to leave out everyone else--you guys have an exciting synergy. The whole experience was as good as it gets.
From Lui Collins, dancer and musician (after the Brattleboro Dawn Dance)
you sounded great the other night. morning. whatever it was. i really enjoyed dancing to you guys, very nice groove. made it easy to flow - well, putting aside the question of being brain-dead - very cool.
just wanted to let you know, since we had to leave quickly afterwards to drive somebody to the bus in Greenfield.
we hadn't planned to stay for the whole thing, but the music was too good to leave. and please pass along to Eric, his fiddling was great, it was great to hear him play again.
Additional Comments From Callers
Kathryn Wedderburn - "I'd be glad to do anything I can to help you guys! Just let me know what you want me to do. You guys are among my very, very favorite musicians to work with, you know...To me, you're more talented and do more unusual things than bands who try to make up for lack of skill by playing loud or fast - you guys can play anything from a waltz to a merengue with the very same tune!"
Paul Rosenberg - "The Flying Garbanzos are one of the most creative and fun contradance bands in the Northeast. They love to play for dancers, and they love to dance. Their arrangements are subtle and clever, rather than some powerhouse bands' styles where they 'go for the knockout punch.' Wherever I go, dancers respond with great enthusiasm to their music!"
Listen to the Flying Garbanzos
Click on a title below for an mp3 of the tune. All tunes were recorded live during a practice session at the Pittsfield Brewworks in February 2007
To obtain a demo CD with these tunes on it or for further booking information, contact Dale Ott or Tony Pisano here
Watch The Flying Garbanzos
We have 3 videos of the Flying Garbanzos currently on YouTube.
These were recorded in 2005 and 2006, so Eric Buddington is playing fiddle
instead of Eric Martin.
The first was recorded by Keith Forman at a concert we played at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown Mass. It is a short version of the reel
Paddy on the Railroad. Click here to watch it.
The other 2 are excerpts from Voices, a Northern Berkshire Community Television show produced by Erica Varieur.
The first medley is an old timey tune Lonesome John with our arrangement of a 14th century German tune Im Maien.
It's here.
The second is a set of rags - our arrangement of Cuando Estaba Enamorado with The Beaumont Rag. It's here
For a schedule of Flying Garbanzos appearances, visit here
To visit The Flying Garbanzos regular web page, click here
