Come Dance with Me

Tracks

Liner Notes

“Fill up the floor for a good old time waltz”…

Those were my favourite words that our dad would say as we played for dances, all over southwestern Ontario, when I was a youngster.  I officially joined “The Merv Woods Orchestra” when I was ten, and I loved watching the dancers move around the dance floor. To me, they were floating, twirling and swishing, the way Cinderella and the Prince would in a Disney movie.  There was something magical about it all, and I think that is why I’ve always needed my music to be ‘danceable’, and why waltzes are my favourite to play.

Another fond memory from playing for those dances, was when someone would request “the fancy dances” – schottische, heel toe polka, seven step and the like.  I learned how to dance all of them, (when I wasn’t playing for them).  

And before long, the square-dance caller would be up on the stage, saying, “Fill up the floor with 4 couples in a set.  Square your sets and away we go”.  If I had a dollar for every jig or reel I played for a square dance, I’d be rich!

Of course, there were always lots of two-steps and fox trots throughout the evening too.  Again, they always had to be played at just the right tempo, with the correct rhythm and beat, to establish a good dance feel – so that people couldn’t help but tap their toes or get up and dance.

The social interaction when dancing was always another enjoyable aspect of playing for dances.  I loved hearing the laughing, talking, joking around, and watching the expression of love between partners.

In this my second solo album, I have included a variety of music - some old familiar tunes, and a few newer ones that were written in the style of the old-time dance music, and even a slow emotional air, so you can ‘snuggle”.  I also wanted to include one of our family’s classic Gospel tunes, with Mom on the piano and brother Scott along with me on the fiddle.

So, whether you grab your sweetheart, a grandchild, your pet or even just the broomstick, … “Come Dance With Me”

Love, Kendra

Musicians

Kendra (Woods) Norris: Fiddle, Accordion
Scott Woods: Fiddle, Bass, Drums
Carolyn Woods: Piano
Steve Piticco: Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Dobro, Bass
Leo Stock: Mandolin
Tyler Beckett: Acoustic Guitar
Darin Parise: 5-String Banjo
Germain Leduc: Piano, Bass

Credits

Produced by: Kendra (Woods) Norris & Scott Woods
Musical Arrangements by: Kendra (Woods) Norris, Germain Leduc & Scott Woods, SOCAN
Recorded & Mixed by: Scott Woods, McLeod Music, Fergus, Ontario
Mastered by: Doug Stronach, Eclipse Music Productions, Simcoe, Ontario
Graphic Design & Photography by: Janet McGlynn, Lumin8 Strategy & Design Agency Inc., London, Ontario