Wyndfall

Celtic, Folk & Folk Rock

Tom Reese (flutes & whistle)      Chris Laughery (guitar & vocal)

Laurie Haines Reese (cello)      Aaron Walker (drums)

Wyndfall, a quartet comprised of flute, cello, guitar/vocal, & drums, is a fusion of many cultures & styles. Laurie’s classical training, Tom’s jazz experience, Chris’ folk & rock background & Aaron's drumming blend into a brand new, fresh acoustic sound that enlivens the traditional celtic elements. Their love of performance is immediately engaging, while bringing accurate performances of traditional celtic music to audiences east to west, north & south. Wyndfall’s varied repertoire swings from Irish traditional songs to jazz to formal classical pieces — incorporating improvisation everywhere possible!

Wyndfall is folk rock mixed with traditional celtic melodies, and jazz improvisation mixed with classical interpretations for the jazz, blues, bluegrass, newgrass, celtic, Irish & folk rock tunes in Wyndfall’s repertoire. Acoustically oriented, this blend of neo-classical blues, layered with whimsical vocals, “summons the ancient troubador” in all of us. Wyndfall’s influences include Jethro Tull, Bela Fleck, David Grisman & New Grass Revival, Turlough O’Carolan, JS Bach, John Coltrane, Miles Davis & Paul Simon. Their varied repertoire ranges from traditional Irish, Scottish, American folk tunes to Bach to Jethro Tull’s “Locomotive Breath.”

They have recorded two CD's, "Piper's Dream" (Wyndfall 2002) & "A Second Wynd" (Wyndfall 2004).  Their CD "Conversations" won "Best Instrumental Album" in the 2002 Just Plain Folks Awards.   This is the largest independent music awards & the criteria they use is, "does the music move me?"  Tom's compositions have also won awards ranging from being in the top 20 of the '02 Grammies, to a 2004 National Endowment for the Arts award for his work with youth in theatre.  Their original compositions have been featured in several theater productions, including "Heart Lights Suite," (Marie Wenger) & the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum Theater & featured on several radio programs & compilation CD's. 

A favorite around St. Patrick's Day, at festivals & concerts, their performances invite audiences to share their musical experience, giving something for everyone. From high energy, virtuosic playing of their instruments, to story-telling through songs, & yes, even bawdy ballads (at appropriate venues!), they consistently hold audiences. 

Wyndfall has opened for bands including Gaelic Storm, Ritchie Blackmore & Blackmore's Night, Bela Fleck, Grey Eye Glances & others. They have also had bands open for them, including Stacy Earle & Empty Hats. They have shared a bill with The Chieftains, Saw Doctors, Pat McGuire & Davy Spillane for St. Paddy’s week celebration in New York City. They headlined the 5k Run & Music Festival for Special Olympics in Tulsa (OK) & played at Mayfest in Tulsa the previous year. Wyndfall performed a special concert with the Shippensburg College-Community Orchestra, where they played & arranged their originals for orchestra. In addition to many local venues, they have also performed at the New Directions in Cello Festival (Lawrence, WI), at Hoggetowne Medieval Faire (Gainesville, FL), Red Lion Pub (Manhattan), Appalachian Brewing Co. (Harrisburg), Bube’s Brewery Complex (Mt. Joy, PA), Kelly's Riverside Saloon (Pittsburgh, PA), 75th Street Brewery (Kansas City, KS) & Kilkenny’s Pub (Tulsa, OK), Theater of the Living Arts (Philadelphia) & Westbury Music Fair (Westbury, NY). Band Members have worked with Ira Sullivan, Chuck Mangione, BJ Thomas, Melissa Manchester, Gloria Estefan, Henry Mancini, Ritchie Blackmore, Steve Craiter, Empty Hats & others.

Wyndfall was a Rostered Artist (Ensemble) with the PA Council on the Arts & Galaxy, the Arts in Education Program of CIU 10 (2002-2005).  The Arts Council placed them into schools for residencies of up to ten days that included teaching music & composition, building instruments, and giving concerts & assemblies. They have developed several educational programs that have received outstanding marks on evaluations.    

Recent Events:

• 75th Street Brewery (Kansas City, KS)
• Appalachian Brewing Company (Harrisburg, PA)
• Artsfest (Harrisburg, PA)
• Bube’s Brewery Bottling Works & Medieval Feasts (Mt. Joy, PA)
• Bube’s Brewery Bier Garten (Mt. Joy, PA)
• Celtic Fling at Mt. Hope Estate & Winery (Mt. Hope, PA)
• Deja Vu Restaurant (Hummelstown, PA)
• Elizabethtown Hotel (Elizabethtown, PA)
• Fulton Opera House (Lancaster, PA)
• George Street Café (Millersville, PA)
• HMV Record Store, 5th Avenue (Manhattan, NYC)
• Hoggetowne Medieval Faire (Gainesville, FL)
• Kelly’s Riverside Saloon (Bridgewater, PA)
• Kilkenny’s Pub (Tulsa, OK)
• Long's Park Amphitheater Series (Lancaster, PA)
• Mayfest (Tulsa, OK)
• McCleary's Pub (Marietta, PA)
• McGrath's Pub (Harrisburg, PA)
• New Directions in Cello Festival (Lawrence, WI)
• Paddy Reilly’s (Manhattan, NYC) -- live web-cast
• Penn State Music Festival (State College, PA)
• Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (Mt. Hope, PA)
• Red Lion Pub (Manhattan, NYC)
• Shippensburg College-Community Orchestra (Shippensburg, PA)
• T Brendan O’Reilly’s Pub (Harrisburg, PA)
• Theater of the Living Arts (Philadelphia, PA) 
• Westbury Music Faire (Westbury, NY)
• Whitaker Center for Science & the Arts (Harrisburg, PA)