a note from dan zanes seven years ago i went to hear the new lost city ramblers play their fortieth anniversary concert at the washington irving high school in manhattan. two big things happened out in the lobby that night. i joined the pinewoods folk music society (and have been a member ever since. this is the way to find out who's playing folk music where and when all around new york). more importantly, i bought a cassette tape that said on its cover "traditional songs for all ages." my daughter was one year old at the time and I had been on a mad search for music that we could enjoy together. there was a certain sound I was after and with the exception of jerry garcia and david grisman's "not for kids only" had been unable to find. when i put on the tape the following morning - there it was, that sound. slightly familiar and yet performed with such soul and confidence that the songs took on a new life. This was widdecombe fair by david jones and bill shute, a collection of 18 ballads, work songs, and sea shanties from the british isles and north america and my family and i loved it immediately.

eventually my daughter and I met david jones at the south street seaport where the new york packet gathers regularly to perform traditional maritime songs. He stood up to sing with them and there it was, that voice.

after the show we said hello, bought another tape and got his phone number. we stayed in touch and this past winter he came to brooklyn to sing an english music hall song called "how do you do?" on my "house party" cd. at that time, the best way to obtain copies of widdecombe fair, not quite ten years after it's release (in 1993), was to send a check to david's house. he would then go to his basement and grab a copy to send out. i thought that there should be another way to get this music out to the world.

i hope that this reissue of "widdecombe fair" will reach the wide audience that it deserves. it's been remastered for optimum sound quality and repackaged with complete lyrics and rare andy warhol artwork .

david jones is often described as one of England's foremost traditional singers. he has an enormous repertoire of folksongs from both sides of the atlantic, which he has performed throughout his native britain and north america at festivals, clubs, and colleges. his songs are drawn from the great days of sail, english music hall, traditional ballads, and the works of contemporary writers. david sings both a cappella and with guitar or concertina accompaniment and involves his audience in refrains and choruses ranging from boisterous to sentimental. He has appeared on television and radio and starred in many theatrical productions including many seasons of The Christmas Revels. In addition to all this, he is a structural engineer.

For more information see http://members.aol.com/folktrad/davidjones/

bill shute is generally considered one of the most creative and earthy acoustic musicians in new england. although he specializes in folk music, he was the lead guitarist for the fifth estate, a rock group whose song "ding dong the witch is dead" was a national hit in the 60's. he has recorded music for sesame street and has also appeared on prairie home companion.