A dulcimer wizard and a pure-voiced poet are the heart and soul of Jubilant Bridge, a harmony-driven acoustic duo with a sparkling sound that is fresh and innovative. Intricate arrangements, harmonies “so tight, they pulse” (Mary Cliff—WETA-FM), and a sense of fun are the hallmarks of every Jubilant Bridge performance, a surprising range of critically-acclaimed originals, contemporary songs, and instrumentals. Although they come from a rich aural tradition, they surprise audiences with counter melodies, changing time signatures, and well-chosen dissonance. The instruments go beyond simple accompaniment; the arrangements and the songs themselves are meshed. They use the vocabulary, but step outside of the conventions, of folk, rock, and pop---not simply stitching together genres, but folding the seams under.

Mountain dulcimer wizard and vocalist Willie Jaeger takes what is often thought of as a “simple” folk instrument and discovers its complexity. His unique style of playing, and his popularity as a teacher at the renowned Swallow Hill School of Music, inspired Westword, Denver’s alternative weekly, to vote him Denver’s “Best Local Folkie.” He has also been a finalist in the national mountain dulcimer championship at Winfield, Kansas. An engaging singer, he also plays hammered dulcimer and guitar, and composes instrumentals and the occasional song.

Vocalist and guitarist Carol Van Alstine provides Jubilant Bridge with most of its distinctive original songs. She comes to songwriting by way of poetry. Often inspired by dreams, her emotionally wise songs depict states of mind and heart and the conflicts between them. Her voice has been described as “striking,” “ethereal,” and “far purer than Michael Jackson’s fondness for gloves.” “How did such a big voice come out of such a small person?” audiences frequently ask. Her musical experiences range from performing at the bottom of the Grand Canyon to singing soprano in Renaissance choirs.

Jaeger and Van Alstine have three previous recordings, “Crazy Like The Wind,” “Another Run At the Mountain,” and “Under Shattered Skies,” which Dirty Linen hailed for its “great harmony vocals,” “compelling dulcimer playing,” and “intelligent and thoughtful” lyrics. Victory Review proclaimed it “a rich aural feast.” Their latest CD, “Happenstance,” recorded at world-class studio Colorado Sound, features their compelling original songs as well as some unexpected covers.

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