Freshet

Ruthie Dornfeld is an eclectic fiddler fluent in a wide variety of styles, from old-time, Celtic, Scandinavian, and Eastern European, to Latin. With Danish guitarist Morten Alfred Høirup, she founded The American Café Orchestra in the 1980s, beginning what has become a continuing collaboration with Scandinavian musicians. She has performed and taught throughout the USA, Europe, Russia and Brazil. A Seattle resident, Ruthie is currently a member of the French cabaret band Rouge, the stringband Funhouse, and a duo with guitarist John Miller.

Petri Hakala is a virtuoso mandolinist and has been a leading player in the vibrant Finnish folk music scene for twenty years. Master of a wide-ranging repertoire, from traditional Scandinavian music to American fiddle tunes and Brazilian chorinhos, Petri performs with accordion virtuoso Maria Kalaniemi, The Helsinki Mandoliners, accordionist Markku Lepisto, and Texas fiddler Erik Hokkanen, and teaches at the Sibelius Academy and Kokkola Conservatory.

John Miller

is a legendary guitarist whose career spans country blues, bluegrass, and jazz genres. First recording in the 1970s as a soloist and with innovative banjoist Tony Trischka, he has since worked with jazz singer Rebecca Kilgore and in many instrumental jazz, blues and Latin groups. John currently lives in Seattle and performs with mandolinist John Reischman, fiddler Ruthie Dornfeld, in the French cabaret band Rouge, and as a soloist, as well as keeping a busy teaching schedule.

Tapani Varis has been in the forefront of the Finnish folk music scene for some 15 years, on bass, jew's harp, and overtone flute. His credits include stints with Finland's most popular folkband, Värttinä, as well as Maria Kalaniemi, Timo Alakotila, Arto Järvelä, The Helsinki Mandoliners and The American Cafe Orchestra. Tapani's groundbreaking CD Munniharppuuna highlights the jew's harp as a lead instrument.