Album Notes

Separated at Birth. They could have come up with an elaborate backstory for the duo and its unique name. But that would have been way too much trouble.

Introduced to each other at the Bristol Renaissance Faire in 1994, Jim Petersen and Jesse Linder quickly bonded. Sharing similar backgrounds, musical interests, and even physical appearance, it was as if they were indeed “separated at birth.”

Together, Jim and Jesse developed a unique sound, featuring tunes on the hammered dulcimer and guitar (with occasional vocals by Jesse). Over the next five-plus years, SaB entertained literally 3 or 4 people at Renaissance faires, coffeehouses, folk clubs, and Irish pubs throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

One of the results of this collaboration was “The Reunion Tour,” a cassette collection of hammered dulcimer tunes released in 1995 that demonstrated the spirit and range of their sound. This was followed the, er . . . following year by their appearance on “Stormin’ the Castle,” a compilation recorded live at the Stronghold Conference Center in Oregon IL.

Now, thirteen years after its initial release, the complete Separated at Birth catalog is available on one CD. “The (re)Reunion Tour” is a collection of 19 tracks – 15 from the original “Reunion Tour” cassette and 4 from “Stormin’ the Castle.” (A cleverly-hidden bonus track is from the “Live at the Lake County Museum” compilation.)

With jigs & reels, hornpipes & airs, Irish, French, and American tunes, and three songs, “The (re)Reunion Tour” has something for everyone.