Port Townsend musician and recording artist David Michael (The ferryboat harpist) has produced this new CD called Chantilly Mae, featuring the compositions of his wife Dari. This is their debut release as a musical duo. Dari composed the melodies for the CD on the hammer dulcimer, bowed psaltery and piano and David provided the arrangements. He accompanies her primarily on guitar and also with Celtic harp. Most of the tunes were written in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, where the couple(married in 2004) went for their honeymoon and has spent some time the last few winters. David's forte is Celtic harp but while in Mexico plays a "beater" guitar, suitable for the beach. They bring the bowed psaltery (a chromatic, triangular melodic instrument) with them as it fits easily in luggage. While vacationing there, they have plenty of time to compose new music. They have spent the last two years creating the CD which was recorded at Synergy Sound in Port Townsend by engineer Neville Pearsall. The eclectic music of Chantilly Mae utilizes many modes, with genres ranging from Medieval to Klezmer ... sometimes sounding Irish or like the soundtrack to an American western. The title piece which Dari wrote for her grandmother, sounds to David like a Ladino(medieval/Spanish/Jewish) melody,and with the addition of an esraj (a 19-stringed bowed instrument from India), the piece falls squarely into the realm of World Fusion .... David's specialty. Some other musicians, Gwen Franz, Randy Mead, Benjy Wertheimer, Michael Mandrell, Joe Breskin, Paul Becker, Forest Shomer and Robert Rushing, make guest appearances on the CD. ****************************** VICTORY REVIEW (August 2008): David Michael, well-known throughout the Pacific Northwest for his ferryboat harp concerts and numerous recordings, has produced and arranged what he considers the fruit of his lifework, the CD Chantilly Mae. Dari Michael, David's wife, composed the sweeping melodies that inspired these ethnic-tinged instrumental arrangements, with strong dance rhythms and lyrical melodies based on ancient modes. Dari explains in the liner notes that she didn't know she was a musician until she married David in 2004. He encouraged her to put away her sheet music and find her own music. Together they have created a beautiful work of art, encompassing the varied music of the world traditions. Dari wrote many of the melodies on bowed psaltery while they were on their honeymoon in Zihuatanejo, Mexico Numerous musicians add to the world fusion sound, including Randy Mead on Turkish clarinet, recorders and flutes, Forest Shomer on pennywhistle, and David Michael on rhythmic guitar, Celtic harp and zither. Paul Becker's clarinet adds a Klezmer joy to the opening number, "Klezmerelda." Cascading arpeggios of multiple stringed instruments, plucked and hammered add a tranquil and peaceful effect in "Rain." Dari's gift for melody is showcased throughout, especially in the tuneful "Welcome Home Little One," and the very moving title track, "Chantilly Mae." Stunning photos and interesting liner notes complete the lovely package. This is a wonderful marriage of David and Dari Michael's talents, skills and mutual love of music. (Hilary Field, Victory Review) Review by STEVE RYALS (Rock Creek Press) A few months ago, I had the good fortune to review Cascadia, an absolutely gorgeous contemporary instrumental CD by David Michael and Michael Mandrell. It is with great pleasure that I introduce Chantilly Mae, a 2007 release by David and his wife Dari. Mostly featuring Dari's compositions, Chantilly Mae is an exquisite soundtrack for another time. Dari mostly plays a bowed psaltery, also known as a mountain (Celtic) zither. There are references to this stringed instrument in the Old Testament of the Bible, so it's at least 3000 years old. Played with one or two bows, the bowed psaltery sounds like a cross between a harp and hammer dulcimer. She also plays the hammer dulcimer and piano. Combined with husband David's guitar, Celtic harp and zither, Chantilly Mae reminds me of a warm spring day, puffy white clouds sailing majestically overhead, as families dance and laugh their way through the marketplace. The eponymous title track has a distinct medieval Spanish-Jewish influence, while the boisterous "Klezmerelda" has a more traditional Jewish feel. My old friend Michael Mandrell is featured on four tracks, including the sweetly haunting "Prairie Lullaby," which sounds as though it could have been on a soundtrack from a 1950s Western. In addition to Michael Mandrell, numerous friends appear with Dari and David on Chantilly Mae. Gwen Franz plays viola and violin. Randy Mead, who plays on most of David's albums, contributes Turkish clarinet, recorders, soprano and bass flutes and synthesizer. Another dear friend, who also plays and tours with Michael Mandrell, is Benjy Wertheimer. He adds frame drum, tambourine, and esraj, a stringed instrument from the Bengal area of India that sounds somewhat similar to a sitar. Joe Breskin on guitar, Forest Shomer on pennywhistle, Robert Rushing on drums and Paul Becker on clarinet round out the astonishingly gifted ensemble of musicians who add so much to Chantilly Mae. I highly recommend Chantilly Mae to anyone looking for a little musical adventure in their lives. Eclectic, poignant and celebratory, Chantilly Mae is a real gem.