Ken and Brad Kolodner

Widely known as one of the foremost and most influential hammered dulcimer players in the U.S. and a fine old-time fiddler, Baltimore’s Ken Kolodner (hammered dulcimer, fiddle, hammered mbira) has joined forces with his son, Brad Kolodner (banjo, banjola, fretless banjo, guitar, fiddle) to perform tight and musical arrangements of original and old-time music “played in the purest way” on twin fiddles, banjo, guitar, hammered dulcimer and more. The duo have been performing together for three years and in 2011 released their first recording of Appalachian and original music. Otter Creek became the most played instrumental recording on the international folk charts in 2011. Brad’s original composition (“Otter Creek”) was the most played instrumental on the folk charts in the United States for 2011. Through performance and on the strength of this first recording, Brad has rapidly gained national recognition for his delicate touch and writing.

Concert appearances for the father and son include annual tours of North Carolina, three appearances at Helicon’s Winter Solstice concerts with Robin Bullock and Chris Norman, performances at the Birchmere, the Kennedy Center, the Creative Alliance, Baldwin’s Station, the Walter’s Art Gallery (also with fiddler Elke Baker), several appearances at the “Bound for Glory” show in Ithaca, NY (the longest running live concert-radio broadcast in the United States), The Common Ground Festival, The Folk Society of Greater Washington, concerts celebrating the Lincoln bicentennial, The Maiden Creek Old Time Festival as well as numerous other concerts and festivals in the Northeast.

Wisconsin DJ Mark Pedersen writes: “Ken is regarded as one of the most accomplished hammered dulcimer players performing today. While not easy to describe, the CD is all instrumental of traditional Appalachian music with hammered dulcimer, fiddle and banjo. What makes this recording special is that Ken collaborates with his son Brad who plays the banjo and banjola. It is what folk music is all about in my opinion. I would also recommend that when you preview the CD do so on good equipment (not a car CD player or cheap computer speakers) otherwise you may miss the tight, intricate, and interesting arrangements.” And Dulcimer Player News writes “this is old time music played in the purest way: at home, with family, with heart, and with a creative curiosity that lets all listeners know that a passion for traditional music yet thrives in every generation.” A recent review by Sing Out! writes "Ken Kolodner is a world class multi-instrumentalist...Otter Creek is a joyous recording featuring two fine musicians who playing excellently. There must be something special to that father-son thing." The Old Time Herald writes: “father and son have reached that musical telepathy that family members can sometimes achieve.”

Among Ken Kolodner’s many credits are a featured solo in an Emmy-nominated CBS-TV Christmas special, over a dozen recordings with sales well over 125,000, an “Indie” winner and a #1 World Music title (“Walking Stones”) and bestseller for BMG (with over 55,000 copies sold), and numerous books and instructional recordings (including a book/CD on old time fiddling for Mel Bay). Brad recently guest-recorded on Out of the Wood, a 2011 release by Elke Baker (a Scottish National Fiddle Champion) and his father. Brad was the winner of the 2010 Takoma Park Old-Time Banjo festival, after playing for just over two years. In addition to winning a Kevin Enoch banjo, Brad was given a performance spot at The Birchmere, sharing the stage with banjo legend Tony Trishka, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, Adam Hurt and other notable banjo players. Brad has also hosted a folk show “The Hobos Lullaby” in Ithaca, NY for the last three years.

Reviews of Otter Creek

“Father and son have reached that musical telepathy that family members can sometimes achieve.”

The Old Time Herald January, 2012

"This is old time music played in the purest way: at home, with family, with heart, and with a creative curiosity that lets all listeners know that a passion for traditional music yet thrives in every generation."

Dulcimer Player News April 2011

"Ken Kolodner is a world class multi-instrumentalist...Otter Creek is a joyous recording featuring two fine musicians who playing excellently. There must be something special to that father-son thing."

Sing Out! April, 2011

"Ken is regarded as one of the finest hammered dulcimer players today. What makes this recording special is that Ken collaborates with his son Brad who plays the banjo and banjola. It is what folk music is all about in my opinion. I would also recommend that when you preview the CD do so on good equipment (not a car CD player or cheap computer speakers) otherwise you may miss the tight, intricate, and interesting arrangements"

DJ Mark Pederson, WOJB Folkways, Barron, WI

Otter Creek was #1 on the Folk DJ-L (the Folk Charts) for