Album Notes

Listening to this music may awaken a memory of your elementary school, a summer campfire, or a country road trip. Millions of people across America have been united by some of these songs, all of which have outlived their initial burst of popularity while thousands of others vanished. These sentimental, tough, joyful songs have come down through the years, from generation to generation, and express part of what it is to be American. From a fiddler in a wagon train heading West to a jazz ensemble in the city, musicians have enjoyed making the tunes their own.

Here, seven brilliant musicians ingeniously reinvent the songs, using their improvisatory imaginations to stretch boundaries. Some of the melodies are poignantly beautiful, while others swing like crazy in an unmistakably American way. Jazz musicians have always adapted great songs from different music styles and used them as vehicles for improvisation. It's reassuring and enjoyable to hear tunes that have settled into the general treasury of American traditional music once again being brought to life.

Dining at Great American Lodges was produced and recorded by Sharon O'Connor. Sharon O'Connor travels the world collaborating with great chefs and musicians, bringing together food, art, music, and travel to create Menus and Music® and MusicCooks®, her two best-selling series.

Big Sky Ensemble:
Jim Nichols, guitar; Bobby Black, pedal steel guitar; Chris Kranyak, violin; Rich Kuhns, accordion; Michael Bluestein, piano; Paul van Wageningen, drums; Peter Barshay, bass

Liner notes include two recipes:
Pan-Fried Red Trout Fillets from Bryce Canyon Lodge, Bryce Canyon National Park
Marionberrry-Ginger Crisp from Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood, Oregon

2% of proceeds are donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

“Sharon O’Connor puts it all together in the wonderful idea of Menus and
Music, with recipes from some of the finest restaurants in the world, matched
up with some of the finest music the world has ever known.”
Gene Burns, Host “Dining Around” KGO Radio San Francisco

“You will love this!”
Michele Anna Jordan, “Mouthful” KRCB Sonoma, California