Jay Ungar & Molly Mason

Masters of Music and Storytelling

Since joining their talents in the late 1970s, Jay Ungar and Molly Mason have become one of the most celebrated duos on the American acoustic music scene. They are masters of music and storytelling who generously share their lives and their music with audiences. There are so many moments and strands to savor during an evening of their music.

Jay’s fiddling is brimming with playfulness, drama, soulfulness, and technical verve, as he explores the many musical styles and idioms that he has internalized and made his own. Molly’s total mastery and inventiveness on piano and guitar is always spot-on, as she supports the tunes and follows the flow of the melody. Her rich and expressive vocals along with the resonant strains of Jay’s violin, reveal the deep emotions that flow in the duo’s veins.

Millions were entranced by the music they did for Ken Burns’ PBS documentary The Civil War. Their performance of the series’ signature tune, Jay’s haunting composition, “Ashokan Farewell,” earned the couple international acclaim. The soundtrack won a Grammy, and “Ashokan Farewell” was nominated for an Emmy.

Jay and Molly’s versatility and stylistic depth let them move from bluegrass to blues, folk, and acoustic jazz with equal ease. There are timeless renditions of hard-driving Appalachian melodies, Cajun and Celtic fiddle tunes, stirring Civil War classics, sassy songs from the golden age of swing and country, stunning waltzes, and moving original works. With their comfortable sense of fun and their love of music, they make each concert a musical journey, sometimes spanning two continents and two centuries. Their incomparable warmth and wit, coupled with consummate musicianship, have delighted audiences worldwide.

They've earned throngs of fans through their appearances on Great Performances, A Prairie Home Companion, their own public radio specials, and with work on film soundtracks such as Brother's Keeper, Legends of the Fall, and several Ken Burns' documentaries. They also performed as part of the acclaimed band Fiddle Fever and occasionally bring their favorite musicians together as Swingology, known for its musical versatility. Through these collaborations, they've produced more than a dozen CDs. No wonder they continue to receive widespread critical praise.

"On stage, Mason and Ungar complement each other like a finely crafted fiddle and bow. Together they weave a rich musical magic carpet on which listeners may vicariously glide back in time and experience first-hand the sonorous riches of traditional music." - David S. Rotenstein, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 "Jay Ungar and Molly Mason play music from the heart which reminds us of the best in all of us." - Ken Burns

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