Freshet is an international band joining four superb instrumentalists: from Finland, mandolinist Petri Hakala and bassist Tapani Varis; from the USA, fiddler Ruthie Dornfeld and guitarist John Miller. Influenced by traditional Nordic music, American folk and jazz, and Latin American music, Freshet passes effortlessly through musical borders. From a Latin waltz to an evocative air, a jazz samba to a hard driving fiddle tune, Freshet plays with verve, tight ensemble, and lyrical improvisation. Freshet made its debut performance in Finland in 2002, and since then has toured alternately in Finland and in the USA. They released their first self-titled CD in February, '05. Freshet just toured in the Pacific Northwest in May, 2005.