Brad & Ken Kolodner

Baltimore’s Ken Kolodner has been called a major part of the rebirth of the hammered dulcimer in the US and is recognized as “one of today’s most accomplished, musical hammered dulcimer artists… A hammered dulcimer player of great taste and sophistication” (Elderly). He is equally adept at playing fiddle in old-time, Appalachian, and Celtic styles. Besides recording numerous CDs, both solo and with several groups, he has published instructional books and CDs for hammered dulcimer and fiddle. In the folk tradition, he passes down his knowledge to many students and at several summer workshops and music camps.

Ken had a long career with the trio Helicon (with multi-instrumentalist Robin Bullock and wooden flute player Chris Norman). Although they disbanded many years ago the group’s nearly sold-out annual winter solstice concerts at Goucher College’s Kraushaar Auditorium have become a Baltimore tradition.

Ken Kolodner will be a guest on Detour, the folk, roots, and world music show, this Sunday, November 20th, 5-7 PM. Tune in to hear some tunes live in the WTMD studio. Accompanying him will be his son, Brad, on banjo. The duo recently released Otter Creek, a CD of original and traditional Appalachian music that reached #30 on the folk music charts (#2 for instrumental recordings).

— Paul Hartman