Mark Simos is a songwriter, tunesmith and composer, dance fiddler, and guitar and piano accompanist, who weaves a lifetime's love of many traditions-Irish, Southern old-time, New England, Quebeçois, bluegrass, and Klezmer among others-into innovative musical forms. Mark's original songs have been recorded by such respected artists as Alison Krauss & Union Station, Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum, Kate Brislin and Jody Stecher, the Del McCoury Band, Peter McLaughlin, Ranch Romance and Freyda Epstein. Mark Simos calls his instrumental creations "tradiginal orishinal" music. That seems a sufficiently straightforward description of the crooked fiddle tunes what we receive on his fabulous CD "Race the River Jordan." Except for the opening "Sail Away Ladies," the album consists of 20 years worth of original compositions that most of the time glisten with the genuine spirit of traditional string-band music. Simos calls these "New Old-Time Style Fiddle Tunes," and many of them do indeed sound like they've been around for ages. Some would be great dance tunes, some are delightfully crooked: all are arranged with a variety and precision that make this a good listen. "... a musician's musician, versed in many musical idioms and excelling at all of them. He is one of the few musicians I know equally at home in the often incompatible roles of traditionalist and innovator." -Mick Moloney "Mark Simos writes songs I wish I'd written." -Laurie Lewis, Rounder recording artist