THE WANDA DEGEN TRIO
Contemporary and Traditional Acoustic Music combining Appalachian, Celtic, Folk, Great Lakes, Pop, Original Songs & Instrumentals.
What do you get when you combine a classical, swing, jazz & blues artist with a singer-songwriter with country & rock roots and a folk musician whose passion is Celtic & old-time music? A fun and sometimes surprising concert with something for everyone - the musical melange called The Wanda Degen Trio.
Award-winning singer, autoharp and dulcimer player Wanda Degen joins flute and saxophone player Dan Giacobassi and singer-songwriter Pete Wittig on guitar and harmonica. Full-time, professional musicians, the trio draws from many years of experience and expertise. From as far north as Isle Royale to the southeast city of Monroe, they have performed extensively around their home state of Michigan and well beyond. All three can be found in the Michigan Arts & Humanities Touring Directory, Wanda and Pete under Dulcimer Days and Dan with the swing band Jive at Five.
Wanda Degen has long been a mainstay of the Lansing area’s vibrant music community, teaching, performing and organizing festivals and concert series. “Wanda Degen is a legend around these parts.” - MSU’s Progressive Torch & Twang radio program. She first received national attention as a member of the folk trio Lady of the Lake and has gone on to be a frequent solo performer at a variety of venues around the Midwest. Wanda’s recordings include the all-instrumental, mostly traditional Celtic CD, The Valley of Abundance , "exquisite musicianship... rich and sumptuous.", and her "homage to both place and state of mind...", Of Woods and Water - Songs of the Great Lakes Region.
Dan Giacobassi is based in his hometown of Muskegon. He and Wanda began weaving the sounds of the flute and dulcimer together over 25 years ago. Well-respected by his peers, Dan has played in a huge variety of musical groups and has been featured on many recordings, including all of Wanda’s.
Pete Wittig is longtime Lansing-based. He has sung his original songs on WSM Radio in Nashville and at the Bluebird Café and other Nashville clubs. Pete has played on the bill with musicians as diverse as Loudon Wainright III and Tom Rush to Jerry Lee Lewis and Bob Seger. Wanda and Pete began performing together in 2001 and he can be heard on Of Woods and Water.
"Heartfelt, the program was conducted professionally and touched the audience personally." "Wonderful! A lot of interaction and information. Beautiful instruments." "The music was enchanting." "Tons of fun for all ages."
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“Heartfelt, the program was conducted professionally and touched the audience personally.” “Wonderful! A lot of interaction & information. Beautiful instruments.” “The music was enchanting.” www.wandadegen.com |
Wanda Degen Dan Giacobassi Pete Wittig |