Reviews & Accolades

“...one of today’s most accomplished, musical hammer dulcimer artists...A hammer dulcimer player of great taste and sophistication,” --Elderly

“...stunning musicality” --Dulcimer Player News

“...without a doubt, Ken Kolodner is one of the hammer dulcimer’s top exponents, playing with a dexterity which would stun many a would-be hammerer.” --Folk Tales Magazine

“nothing short of astonishing”--The Connection

“virtuosic” --Audio

“...Outstanding...soulfully beautiful.” --NY Times

“...a fiddle and hammered dulcimer virtuoso...just the right amount of fire...totally delightful” --Sing Out, March 2005

“...A marvelous collection...delightful” --Washington Post, 2005

“...joyous...reminiscent of Joe Venuti's work. [Journey to the Heartland] makes for a CD that you can live with all day.” --Celtic Beat, 2005

“He's a master at finding what Alasdair Fraser appropriately calls the "rhythmic underbelly" of a tune.” --Potomac Valley Fiddle Club Newsletter, 2005

“When Ken Kolodner plays the hammered dulcimer, something special happens; he makes it sing...inspiring...a tremendous musician...a tremendous album [Journey to the Heartland]...” --Irish Edition, March, 2005

“...stirring...evocative...” --Washington Post, April, 2005

“...{Journey to the Heartland}...sparkling versions ...The love and respect for the music chosen comes through clearly” --Dirty Linen .June/July 2005

“"This is just about all anybody could ask for in an instrumental recording. The tunes are all great...Ken's playing positively sizzles...delightful...wonderful...Typically, Ken makes great use of syncopation…The up-tempo rhythms are really infectious..." ” --Dulcimer Player News, 2005

With Brad Kolodner

"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 hit as high as #2 on the Folk DJ-L for instrumental recordings and top 50 overall for several months in 2011.

with Laura Risk (Greenfire)

“A magical trip into the musical lore of Ireland and Scotland.” --BMG Classical Music Club

“We have seen an explosion of groups playing both Celtic and New Age music in the past several years, to the point where they almost should have a “top 10” of their own. This is the exceptional group that has raised a standard by both sheer musical expertise, and the love they share which allows for the spontaneous creativity that makes their music special” --The All Music Guide

“The trio plays with the soul, emotion, inspiration, and (when needed) the oomph that should be the envy of many a Celtic band. The album [Greenfire] opens in a rousing, toe-tapping fashion with a sprightly six-minute medley of reels that proves from the start that Greenfire can burn red hot! On the other hand, the group's fire can be warm and toasty, as on renditions of slower pieces such as the waltz “First Light in the Mountains”.... On “Sheila Coyle's”, the ensemble delivers a beautiful piece that's soothing and comforting. The repertoire runs the stylistic gamut from hornpipes to polkas to slow airs to jigs to strathspeys, and the geographic gamut from Ireland to Cape Breton to Scotland to Chicago, and even to Finland for one fiddle tune. Bullock, Kolodner, and Risk show their considerable instrumental abilities through arrangements that give each individual plenty of chances to play the melodic lead. They work well as a unit, and it sure sounds like they're very c omfortable performing with one another. Fresh, authentic, invigorating... ” --Dirty Linen

“[Greenfire] explores the spirit and soul and mysticism of Irish music and kindred styles... The combination of Kolodner's deft touch and the dulcimer's shimmering tones inevitably conjure contemplative and sometimes courtly moods, but not before we're treated to a lively set of Irish, Scottish, and Irish American reels. Risk's aggressive attack, which accounts for much of the music's rhythmic force early on, is later supplanted by a bittersweet lyricism on other pieces, including the Scottish slow air “Princess Beatrice”. But it returns again, vigorously, on a couple of Irish polkas that are vibrantly underscored by Bullock's rhythm guitar. As a result, the beauty and the beat of Celtic music are always well served.” --The Washington Post

“Queen's Polka starts out with a very cool damped down dulcimer backing up Laura's exciting fiddle lead with Robin playing a terrific cittern back up. This leads up to a wonderful crescendo transition into the Bournish Polka where the dulcimer takes an unmistakable driving lead. It excites me every time I hear it…You have here, the first ever Dulcimer Times hammered dulcimer Five stars album!” --Dulcimer Times

“Exceptional musicians... Greenfire's approach combines a loving respect for tradition and a thoroughly playful sense of creativity. The result is controlled artistry that should appeal to all fans of Celtic music... Clearly this is a 'must have' album for Celtic fans.” --Dulcimer Player News

“Walking Stones is a very rewarding musical journey... delightful listening. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. The instruments weave seamlessly in and around each other and deliver that 'Celtic pulse' that, done right, seems as effortless and natural as breathing.” --Dulcimer Player News

“…inspiring…the interplay between the hammered dulcimer’s precise percussive qualities and the graceful fluidity of Risk’s fiddling was a real treat.” --Rambles: A Cultural Arts Magazine

With Helicon

“What's most impressive is the tight interplay among the three musicians.” --Baltimore Messenger

“Helicon's brand of hypnotic Celtic-inspired dance rhythms makes a heady brew when mixed with this wide-ranging set of carols and winter songs. That Helicon's stylized treatment can tame and blend this eclectic set is a tribute to the solid musicianship of this talented trio. Their warm, understated take on the season will be a welcome relief for many from the droning familiarity of popular Christmas carols. This 52-minute disc breaks from the Christmas “mold” to present spirited and captivating acoustic arrangements of folk music suitable for the season, perfectly performed by Helicon. Heliconists Chris Norman, Ken Kolodner, and Robin Bullock bring a wonderful combination of flutes, piccolo, pipes, whistle, piano, percussion, hammer dulcimer, fiddle, guitar, and cittern to interpretations of traditional music from Israel, England, Ireland, South America, Kenya, Denmark, France, China, Russia, Mexico, and the U.S. There are even some Jewish selections. Recorded in the fabled acou stic of the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy, New York, the audiophile quality of this Dorian 24-bit recording enhances Helicon's beautiful musicianship.” --Home Theater HI FI and The Albuquerque Alibi (December 2000)

“…a best bet…catch the NPR broadcast” --USA Today

“…the multi-instrumental performances of Ken Kolodner and Robin Bullock are virtuosic.” --H & B Recordings Direct

“…Quite wonderful! The musicians of Helicon have a deep feeling for an amazing variety of styles. This group is introducing a lot of people to some remarkable music they might not otherwise get to know. They respect the music they play, they play with spirit and sparkle, and they obviously love what they do. So do I. So will you.” --Stereo Review

“…Outstanding…soulfully beautiful.” --NY Times

“…A marvelous collection…delightful…” --The Washington Post

“All three of these guys rank at or near the very top of their profession. The musicianship is uniformly outstanding” --Dulcimer Player News

Rambles:
Walking Stones





  

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 Greenfire

Rambles:
Greenfire--
A Roof for the Rain

Review # 2

Rambles:
Greenfire live performance at Longwood Gardens,
Kennett Square, PA

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Helicon

Helicon
Winter Solstice

Rambles:
Winter Solstice

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