Once upon a time, Jim Lawrence and his daughter, Holly, started a father-daughter singing duo. They sang at festivals, bookstores and pubs before friend and local musician and music teacher Mark Davis added fiddle, guitar, mandolin and vocals to the mix. They continued to play the even more venues before Mark went on hiatus from the ensemble. Filling in with them for a gig and then joining them to round out the trio once again was fiddler and singer Lauren Smith. While together, the three of them recorded the CDs Of Gaels and Saints (not pictured below), Celtic Harmonies and Caledonian Shadows.
Caledonian Shadows featured the three of them with some help from help Katie Miller, a classical violinist from Gordonsville, Va. and Paul Sturm, the engineer of the project (as well as the prior two).
Holly and her family then moved to Southwestern Virginia and then Texas in the quest for better employment, leaving Jim and Lauren to solider on as a duo. They rechristened the group Celtic Machinations and recorded Spare Parts.
After a five year absence, Holly returned to the area an rejoined the group which retained the moniker, Celtic Machinations.
Recorded at Wally Cleaver's Recording, this was a collection of ballads and fiddle tunes by JIm and Holly.
The Water is Wide features Lauren and is a very enchanting take on the classic tune. Holly guests as lead vocal on Frog in a Cocked Hat, a precursor to its American cousin, Froggy Went a Courtin' and adds back up vocals to Ding Dong Dollar, a comtemporary Scottish tune regarding a visit from an American nuclear submarine a loch. Jim also sings Ca the Yowes, The Kellyburn Braes and Scots Wha Hae, all classic tune by the immortal Robert "Rabbie" Burns.
Also feautured on the Cd is Bill Reese of Moch Pryderi fame (mandolin on The Kellyburn Braes) and engineer Jeff Covert adds bass to several tracks.
The CD was nomimated the orginial Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) for best folk album the year it was released.
Caledonian Shadows was conceived as an homage to our Scottish heritage. Featured on the cover is photo and art by Jacob Lawrence, who depicts, from left to right, Robert Burns, The Green Man of Knowledge, The Fairy Queen from Tam Lin, a Brownie (standing in Holly's hand) and in front, The Wee Wee Man. All are featured on the CD.
The CD is not solely a traditional one and includes a 16 minute setting of Tam Lin, divided into eight separate acts with music writen by Jim. The Green Man of Knowledge is an original take, also by Jim, on the fearsome denizen of the wood.
Video Links
History
A 2020 interview by Mark Walker of the Free Lance Star, Fredericksburg, Va.'s local newspaper (press the button to view).
Jim, Holly and Mark's second effort feature, Celtic Harmonies, features traditional and contemporary covers of primarily Irish music, including an a capella version of Skibbereen and lovely versions of Dublin in the Rare Auld Times and Song for Ireland, more recent tunes of Eire. Jim and Holly render on point two part harmony on the English Scarborough Faire and Mark sports some fiddle and mandolin chops on the rousing Sailor's Hornpipe and Rights of Man.
Many of these track may be found on Spotify or other streaming platforms.
If you wish to purchase any or all of these CDs they are $15 apiece (add $3 for shipping) or all three may be had for the discounted price of $30 (add $5 for shipping). Just email us at celticmach@gmail.com. We will rush to fill your order!
Some friends of ours caught us in live mode! Just click on the button to watch!
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