It is good to welcome back the Zulu Leprechauns after a long hiatus.
But for anyone who has ever heard the Zulu Leprechauns perform at festivals and clubs in Portland in years past knows that if you are able to recognize either one of these covers by the time Zulu turns it inside out and makes it into a sort of African poly-rhythmic celebration, you're one up on the average listener.
Out of Africa with a magical touch of Ireland? At first blush, that’s what’s suggested by the Zulu Leprechauns’ unusual name. But the curious moniker simply symbolizes the eclecticism exemplified by a southern Maine ensemble that’s been a distinctive landmark on the local arts scene for nearly a decade.
You don't get much music of this sort around here, either, but that could be changing. One third of Zulu Leprechauns is Annegret Baier, who's spreading her work around liberally as the most in-demand session percussionist in the area. (You read about her two issues ago as a permanent part-time member of Papa Loves Mambo.) With Jim Schwellenbach and John Shaw, Baier makes lively, mostly acoustic music that feels like the islands.
Ironically, "Driveby Shooting" is one of the songs that feels most like vacation in a bright, sunny place. On "Equinox" the guitar has a full, Brazilian sound that, with Baier's percussion, takes on the feel of a life on the range before everything was permanently settled. Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" has been done dozens of different ways, and this is another one. The dulcimer isn't relegated to supporting instrument status, but I also don't remember another version on which percussion played such a prominent part.
Somehow I have a feeling that Zulu Leprechauns won't be contained within Northern New England. The time to see and hear them is now.
I wish there was more I could tell you about this trio that, apparently, hails from somewhere in Central Maine, but the information that accompanies this cassette is scant. The music, however, is very different, and a simple roster of instruments involved tells you so. Jim Schwellenbach plays dulcimer. Patrick Nolan handles djembe and kalimba. John Dyer Shaw handles the more traditional instruments such as bass and guitars. All sing and play various percussion instruments. Sound like fun yet?
Get a load of the medley of "Greensleeves" with the Dead's "The Other One". It begins with the solemn "Sleeves" melody, then transforms into a rolling road song. Both "Cornwall" and "Wellyn" (written by the late dulcimer player, Albert d'Ossche, to whom the record is dedicated) are dulcimer based songs with just a touch of ethnic feel, sometimes Irish, sometimes Middle Eastern or Indian. I kept hearing it differently as I went back and listened again (and again). Schwellenbach's "My Legs are Shakin" is a percussive yet acoustic rumbler that probably would sound like a wall of sound in a rock'n'roll context. "That Kalimba Thing", the only group composed song of these eight, is absolutely gorgeous.
Cutting edge dulcimer? You bet. Zulu Leprechauns has been wowing audiences (most recently at the Maine Festival) with an eclectic blend of tunes hammered out on bass, electric dulcimer and a mess of percussion instruments. This Maine based improv group puts an edgy twist on old standbys like "Greensleeves" and serves up sometimes zesty, sometimes haunting originals.
The name Zulu Leprechauns paints a curious picture of little men in green dancing around a pot of gold in South Africa. But it stands for an eclectic musical trio in Maine.
Playing music they term Celtic funk 'n' roll, Zulu Leprechauns feature Annegret Baier on djembe (an African drum), congas and assorted percussion. Baier studied West African and Latin American drumming in West Africa, Cuba, and her native Stuttgart, West Germany. She moved to Maine last winter and has been playing with Inanna, Sisters of Rhythm and the Zulu Leprechauns since then.
Jim Schwellenbach of Camden and John Shaw of Gardiner play electric mountain dulcimer and bass guitar respectively in Zulu Leprechauns. All three sing.
...the album is a heady mix of folk, pop and world music that hints at something never heard before. Most of the songs have a simple, homespun elegance, while the covers though obvious choices - take the songs in unexpected directions. But where the album truly excels is on the five instrumentals, where the trio of dulcimer player Jim Schwellenbach, bassist John Shaw and multi-percussionist Annegret Baier stretch out musically. Unlike most groups who try to be eclectic by mixing and matching genres, Zulu Leprechauns have the ability to transcend all notions of genre to create a vision all their own. They have plenty of promise.