The Mudflats
The Mudflats have been performing on the North Fork for several years, creating a pulsing groove of foot-stomping fiddle tunes and songs that touch the heart. Inspired by the melting pot of traditional American music that grew out of the southern Appalachian region – where Celtic fiddles met African banjo rhythms - the Mudflats add harmonies and twin fiddle fusion for a contemporary sound.
Mimi Fahs - Fiddle
Mimi started playing the violin at age 9. After classical lessons and finishing a dissertation on the United Mine Workers and public health policy, she discovered Old Time fiddle music. Inspired by original artists such as Ralph Blizzard, and more recent musicians such as Bruce Molsky, Rayna Gellert, Brittany Haas, and Emily Schaad, she fell in love with the energy and groove of Southern Appalachian-style fiddle. She’s been a regular at festivals such as the annual Appalachian String Band Music festival - “Clifftop”, and Jay Ungar’s annual Southern Week at Ashokan. To get more of a “feel” of the style, she took a break from her CUNY professorship to spend a sabbatical in Asheville, North Carolina. She is thrilled to be playing with professional musicians, Helen Hooke and Nancy Baxter, who with the band, are adding to the vitality of traditional American fiddle music to create an original Mudflats sound.
Nancy Lee Baxter- Lead singer, rhythm guitar
Nancy is a well-known singer/songwriter both in New York and in Nashville. She was a staff writer in Nashville for over 15 years at BMG and Universal Music Group, releasing her 1st album “Touch and Go” for BMG music. Her song “I Will Survive” was featured in the Movie “Holes” and was a top 40 hit for the group Wild Horses. Country star Joe Diffie recorded her “Never Mine to Lose” on his album “Life’s So Funny”, and earned her a platinum album. Her tune “She Doesn’t Ask” appeared on Linda Davis’ album, “Some Things Are Meant to Be”.
As a studio singer in NYC, Nancy recorded with Tom Paxton on his “Heroes” album, and with Ellie Greenwich. She is currently recording her next solo album “A Certain Blue”.
Helen Hooke, Mudflats lead fiddler
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Helen has lent her talents to many diverse projects. Her groundbreaking all-female band The Deadly Nightshade, on RCA records, and produced by Felix Cavalieri (supporting musicians included Steve Gadd, David Sanborn, Leslie West, the Brecker Brothers and Howard Johnson), was influential in the musical arena, and became a seminal band for the women’s movement. They toured extensively and opened for Billy Joel (The Stranger Southern Tour), Peter Frampton and John Prine, and performed at the End of the War Rally in Central Park. They also performed on, and wrote and recorded music for Sesame Street, including songs performed by the Muppets. The Deadly Nightshade released a reunion album in 2012 and is memorialized in the Women’s History Division of the Smithsonian Institution and the Archives of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Their music can be heard on Spotify and all streaming platforms. www.thedeadlynightshade.net
Hooke has fronted Magenta Rose, Helen Hooke Band, Helen Hooke and Red Boots, The Femmes and HoneySpots, and has released 3 albums of original music on Montana Blake Records. She has toured and recorded for artists including Deborah Harry on Blondie’s 1999 release; Nancy Atlas, 2005; Mary Anne Farley; Gretchen Langheld’s House Afire; Strange Cave, led by James Mastro; Valentine Smith; and Okra All-Stars, featuring Dave Schramm and Jeb Loy Nichols.
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“Helen Hooke adds power and a raw edge…she plays guitar, piano and fiddle with a tough inventiveness and wit…”Rolling Stone
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“I didn’t know you could get a Hendrix solo out of a violin. For the record, the way violinist Helen Hooke does it, you can..” Cashbox
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“Hooke’s deep, melodic vocals are like a cross between Joni Mitchell and Laura Nyro and like those fine ladies, Hooke can be tender, playful, arousing or romantic as the mood hits her..” Jersey Journal
David Air - Banjo
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Born the illegitimate son of an English Peer and an American mother, he spent his formative years in Rangoon, Burma. He took up guitar and banjo in prep school, but quickly chose the latter instrument so he could accompany his roommate in the deep south music of his Alabama upbringing.
The Mudflats sought him out after the death of one previous banjo player and the mysterious disappearance of another. At this juncture, he says of his collaboration with the group, “So far so good”.
David became interested in string band music during the American folk music revival of the 1960's drawing inspiration from artists such as Doc Watson, The New Lost City Ramblers and original Old Time music banjo players.
Mary Dorman - Mandolin
Mary Dorman first appeared onstage at her high school talent show. She played guitar and sang “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” by the Beatles. Despite requests to her to record the song, she continued to tour old folks’ homes with her all girl folk group. Inspired by the folk songs of the Kingston Trio, Joan Baez, Donovan, Dylan and Ian and Sylvia, Mary performed in Orient Folk Festivals organized by her brother, Ande Dorman, in the early 1970s.
She continued playing guitar and singing at family gatherings, beach parties and various musicales. In 2015, her brother Ande, a professional musician, gave her a mandolin for her birthday saying: “Sis: this is the world’s greatest instrument: No one plays it, and it weighs a pound and a half.” As a result, she found her musical niche.
Colleen McDonough - Drums
Colleen purchased her first set of drums in elementary school and was immediately directed to the basement with her kit! In high school she played percussion in an all-girl band and sang with the Glee Club and an octet called the Merribells!
After graduate school Colleen moved to New York City where she played drums in the West Broadway Band, which performed at the notorious “Taking Liberties” show at Symphony Space.
Colleen was fortunate to play percussion and sing in several bands headed by Helen Hooke including, Helen Hooke Band, the Renegade Lost Girls, Helen Hooke and Red Boots, The Femmes, and HoneySpots.
She contributed vocals and percussion to several CD releases by Helen Hooke.
Colleen spent the last two decades leading The ASCAP Foundation, a public charity dedicated to nurturing aspiring songwriters, composers and lyricists as well as supporting music education.
Prior to her work at The ASCAP Foundation, she held leadership positions at the Women’s Sports Foundation, the Public Relations Society of America and as Adjunct Instructor and Assistant Dean at Pace University.
As a band member, performer, and music educator, Colleen understands the value of nurturing creative talents and is delighted to be part of the Mudflats.
Elizabeth Thompson - Bassist
Growing up on the Philadelphia music scene, Elizabeth studied jazz drumset, playing in local bands there and later in Washington D.C. and New York City. She has played in rock ‘n roll, jazz, blues and rockabilly bands.
Ten years ago she began playing upright bass and studied with Christopher North of the Berkeley School of Music in Boston. She became an original member of the Mudflats and drives the band with her percussive style.
She is an Architect and Landscape designer with a residential practice for many years and currently lives fulltime on the North Fork.