Biography
Take a classical and Eastern European influenced singer/songwriter with a flair for puns and limericks, pair her with an American folk and rock singer/songwriter who was educated by Mad Magazine, and the have the duo of Whitman and Pantell. Karen and Rick work with an array of stringed instruments, coupled with warm honest vocals and superb accompaniment on their uniquely personal and universal repetoire. They have performed at numerous coffeehouses (Colony Cafe, Woodstock, NY, Cafe Mezzaluna, Saugerties, NY, Red Hook Inn, Red Hook, NY, The Parlour and The Looking Glass Theater, NYC) and festivals (Clearwater Great Hudson River Revival, Croton, NY, Canal Festival, Rotterdam Junction, NY, Great American Weekend, Goshen, NY and Golden Festival [International Music], NYC) as well as First Night Albany and First Night Saratoga. Before teaming up, Karen was the lead singer of her Manhattan based band, The Balkanizers, performing at such venues as Linclon Center and Carnegie Hall, as well as The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Rick was playing the coffeeehouse circuit from Boston to Boise, for college kids and cowboys respectively (and respectfully) ...... Clearly they were a perfect match waiting to happen!
They both moved to Woodstock, NY (Yes, THE Woodstock!) where they eventually met through their love of the visual arts. After showing each other (quite literally their etchings, they discovered they could also make beautiful music together. They've been harmonizing ever since.
Recently, Whitman & Pantell have been performing their repertoire with bassist Dennis Wilder and drummer/percussionist Bob Pearl, expanding their sound for larger/appropriate venues.
Instrumentation
Karen Whitman - Vocals, Violin
Rick Pantell - Guitar, Banjo, Tambura, Harmonica
Dennis Wilder - Electric Bass
Bob Pearl - Drums/Percussion
Discography
CD Title: "Chicken Fat Pudding and Other Delights", officially released on May 28th, 2006, in Woodstock, NY. Several tracks from the CD were played on WKZE 98.1 FM, and spotlighted on May 20, 2006 on Todd Mack's "Off the Beat-N-Track"radio show. Our tracks have also been aired on WCFM, WPCR, WJFF, WITR, KDHX, KFJC and others as well as internet stations CatskillRadio.org, robinhoodradio.com, and Internet Live 365.
Our upcoming CD will be released later in 2009.