Festive Nights

Dave Holodiloff, multi-talented Monterey-based musician who could give David Grisman a run for his money, gives his take on some world music classics; great arrangements re-imagine these well-worn tunes; Holodiloff's sense of humor and musicality are on display everywhere

NO FCC's; all instrumental; all tracks good; favorites 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 13

***1-Misirlou (5:11) – powerful rendition of this classic

2-Bourée in E minor (3:12) – jazz-tinged; sounds major not minor to me

***3-Ochi Chornya (Dark Eyes) (3:52) – slightly dissonant mandolin and violin drone; really moves and riffs on the basic melody

4-Funiculi, Funicula (2:07) –straightforward but fun rendition

*5-Hava Nagila – nice clarinet on this; keeps speeding up

6-Cielito Lindo – (1:49) – pretty straightforward

***7-Tico-Tico no Fubá (2:04) – upbeat, happy; very fast-paced, virtuoso mandolin playing

8-O Solo Mio (2:26) – very sweet rendition; multi-layered instruments

*9-Katyusha (2:37) - very fast; strong mandolin playing; nice bass too

10-Tarantella Napolitano (2:18) -great dance tune

11-Naquele Tempo (4:00) – nice violin work followed by mandolin

*12-Kotsari (3:25) – crazy fast for a Black Sea dance tune

*13-Dve Gitary (Two Guitars) (2:16) – very cute on mandolin; nice clarinet riffs too

*14-Pachelbel's Canon (3:59) – not sure what this is doing here (maybe a hidden wedding theme?). Thank god it speeds up through the latter part and even boasts a banjo (yay!)