Brandywine Ridge

On Brandywine Ridge, The Piros take a keen interest in rendering tunes that are fun and interesting to hear, not just for other old time musicians, but to anyone outside the jam circle, like their friends that hang out in the kitchen during their jams.  The music spans a wide swath of old time tunes from various regions and sources, including Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, Texas/Oklahoma. They leave the mother ship for a few minutes for Ireland (Si Bheag Si Mhor) and East Africa (Reverse Chronology of CooleyAnne). With the generous permission from the composers, The Piros recorded three original tunes - Gravois Creek Pump (Geoff Seitz), Old Cumberland (Pat Conte) and Taylor Girls (Matt Brown).

With no resident banjo player, the Piros enjoy bringing in the talents of banjo playing friends of the family. For Brandywine Ridge, Paul Sidlick, Walt Koken (of the legendary Highwoods String Band) and Joel Wennerstrom were kind enough to lend their extraordinary talents. This brings a fresh approach and outside perspective to each tune. Walt sang lead (as he did in 1973 on the Highwoods’ Fire on the Mountain album) and played banjo on Grey Cat On A Tennessee Farm, which has the whole Piro family (including “mother of the band”, Amy) singing backup. Another special guest is Vinaya “Marty” Lebenson, playing harmonica on Old Cumberland.

The last cut (Reverse Chronology of CooleyAnne) features the chants of a Maasai tribe from the Ngorongoro region in Tanzania, whom Mark met and recorded on a trip to East Africa in 2019. Also included is a studio out-take by Walt (Walt Meets Gid and Riley), a bit of an inside joke which should give a chuckle to any fan of old time music.

All tracks (except noted):  Ian Piro – Bass, Uke; Evan Piro - Mandolin; Yuri Piro – Guitar; Mark Piro – Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar 

Half Irish (Trad.) 3:14 

Gravois Creek Pump (Geoff Seitz) 3:19 
Joel Wennerstrom - Banjo 

Shucking The Brush (Trad.) 2:50 
Paul Sidlick - Banjo 

Old Cumberland (Pat Conte) 2:16 
Vinaya “Marty” Lebenson - Harmonica

Paddy Won't You Drink Some (Trad.) 2:41 

Salt Creek (Trad.) 2:48 
Paul Sidlick - Banjo 

Si Bheag Si Mhor (Trad.) 1:46 
Mark Piro - Guitar 

Taylor Girls (Matt Brown) 2:36 
Paul Sidlick – Banjo  Evan Piro 2nd Guitar 

Little Boy Working on the Road (Trad.) Source: Effie Pierson 2:58 
Paul Sidlick - Banjo

Gypsy Dance (Trad.) 2:24 

No Corn on Tygart (Trad.) 2:40 
Paul Sidlick – Banjo Evan Piro 2nd Guitar

Gray Cat on a Tennessee Farm (Trad.) 3:27 
Walt Koken – Banjo, Vocals 
The Piros (with Amy Piro) - Vocals 

Bitter Creek (Trad.) 3:00 
Paul Sidlick - Banjo 

Reverse Chronology of CooleyAnne (Mark Piro) 2:32 
Based on the tune, Julianne Johnson 
August Piro – Human Beatbox 
Paul Sidlick – Bart Reiter Banjo and Minstrel Banjo 
Ngorongoro Maasai of Tanzania 

Walt Meets Gid and Riley 1:14 
As told by Walt Koken