Nicole Rabata's debut CD 'Armorica' features a compelling blend of traditional music from Ireland, French Canada, Brittany and Scandinavia combined with original compositions on the wooden flute. The album features a dramatic contrast of textures and arrangements, from upbeat dance tunes and rich harmonies to evocative melodies. Nicole is joined by a stellar lineup of instrumentalists on each track. Featured on the album are Seamus Connolly and Ellery Klein, (fiddle), Natalie Haas (cello), David Surette (guitar & cittern), Matt Shipman (guitar) Chris Stevens (accordion and concertina), Owen Marshall (bouzouki, guitar & harmonium) and Danielle Langord (harp). "I wrote SUNSHINE REEL while living in Ireland in 2002 and BACK BAY REEL in Portland, Maine in 2009. The title-track ARMORICA is named after the part of Gaul that includes the Brittany peninsula and the territory between the Seine and Loire rivers. I learned the traditional Breton dance tune LARIDE from David Surette, who joins me on this track. VIEUX LOUDEACS was composed by the Breton accordionist Youen Paranthoen. HER LOVELY HAIR WAS FLOWING DOWN HER BACK was composed by the celebrated West Clare musician and storyteller Junior Crehan. I wrote JUNIOR'S WALTZ for my friend Junior Stevens in New York City in the summer of 2009. THE ROAD TO CREE was composed by Michelle Mulcahy and STONY STEPS associated with the flutist Matt Molloy. Written by Tommy Peoples, AN FEOCHAN (Gentle Breeze) is a tune I learned from the playing of the late Frankie Kennedy. I arranged the popular slip jig DEVER THE DANCER in 10/8 time after becoming inspired by Balkan music. LJUGAREN was played by a soman on a spilapipa (a traditional fipple flute) as a lament for her husband, whom she had seen fall through the ice and drown on Lake Ljugaren in Dalarna, Sweden in 1888. A Swedish mediaeval dance, LANGDANS FRAN SOLLERON was once common on the island of Solleron in Lake Silijan in Dalarna. ANNO 1643 was written by Roger Tallroth from the Swedish band Vasen. The HUMOURS OF TULLYCRINE is associated with the great West Clare fiddler Bobby Casey. PADDY FAHEY'S tunes are widely recognized for their distinctive yearning style known as 'droicht'. TOMMY MULHAIRE'S is associated with Martin Mulhaire from Eyrecourt, County Galway. I learned the three jigs HUMOURS OF BALLINGARRY, SNUG IN THE BLANKET, and THE HIGHWAY TO KILKENNY from the wonderful fiddler Seamus Connolly who joins me on this track. REEL D'YVON MIMEAULT is associated with the fiddler Yvon Mimeault from the Gaspe, who learned this tune from Adrien Allaire. Guy Bouchard learned Issoudun from Joseph Couture in 1983 when Couture was 75 years old. It is named after a village southwest of Quebec City." Produced by Nicole Rabata Engineered and mixed by Micah Davis and Steve Drown at The Studio in Portland, Maine USA Mastered by Grey Larsen Mastering, Bloomington Indiana Nicole plays flutes by Patrick Olwell and Gilles LeHart. Contact: www.nicolerabata.com nicolerabata@gmail.com