The title would have been a dead giveaway, if I'd bothered to read it before slipping the disc into my stereo.

Sure, Lissa Schneckenburger sang a few songs on her previous, self-titled album, but it was the New England artist's fiddling that really grabbed my attention. She was filed away in my memory as an impressive young fiddler, sweet-faced and immensely talented, who sometimes sang to good effect. But the album here is titled Song, so guess where its focus lies?

Yeah, Lissa's mostly singing here.

No worries on the fiddle front, because she plays on every track, along with the assistance of bandmates Austin Nevins on electric guitar, Corey DiMario on double bass, Dave Cory on tenor banjo, Eric Merrill on viola and harmony vocals, Hanneke Cassel on fiddle, Jeremiah McLane on piano and accordion, Keith Murphy on guitar and harmony vocals, Matt Heaton on guitar, Natalie Haas on cello, Rushad Eggleston on celloa, Sam Amidon on harmony vocals, Sharon Shannon on button accordion and Stefan Amidon on percussion and harmony vocals. Did you read those names carefully? That's a pretty impressive lineup for a backing band!

But, as the title suggests, the centerpiece of Song is, well, songs. And it's a good thing that Lissa isn't just a fiddler who sometimes sings. Here, she's a singer who sometimes fiddles, and she's equally adept at both. Her voice is clear, sweet and mellow, and she adds a pleasant touch to this collection of traditional ballads. While broadly categorized as Celtic songs, these tracks come specifically from the rich traditions of both coastal and inland New England. Some will be immediately familiar, while several are rarer finds from the Downeast fishing villages and lumbering camps.

Next year will see the release of Lissa's next CD, Dance, which will again focus on her fiddle. Meanwhile, it's a pleasure to enjoy this example of Lissa's diverse and growing skills in music. She's an ascending star whose future looks more than promising!

[ visit Lissa Schneckenburger's website ]