Talisman
Introduction Personnel Demo tracks Promo documents
“Last Friday's concert... was a wonderful evening and so many people have commented on it... a nice mix of vocal and instrumental, and the banter from the stage... made this concert especially great. Thanks.”
-- Sharon Moore, Salem, OR
Talisman's music has enthralled audiences at festivals, fairs, concert halls,
pubs, weddings, farmers markets, rallies, and fundraisers since 1994. The band's hammered dulcimer, fiddle,
flutes/whistles, guitar, and voices -- delivering their percolating blend of Celtic, New England, Appalachian,
and original tunes and songs -- stir the feet and give the brain's pleasure receptors a friendly nudge.
Known for its “imaginative arrangements” (Victory Review), the band draws on 300 years of dance music and songs from the Celtic and American folk traditions, often creatively weaving old tunes into modern songs. Talisman can soothe, but they more often turn listeners into dancers with expertly tackled jigs, polkas, and reels.
Talisman has two recordings available -- Phoenix (1996) and Just Up the Hill (2004) -- which may be purchased from our web store or through CDBaby. Each features the band's inspired arrangements and accomplished, good-humored playing in over an hour of engaging tunes and songs.
Be sure to hear Talisman live! Check the calendar for upcoming dates.
Talisman can perform as a duo, trio, or quartet, depending on individual availability. In any configuration, Talisman will bring smiles and the urge to dance to all who listen. If you would like to book Talisman for your festival, market, wedding, party, or other event, please contact us.
“Like all good bands, the whole is better than the sum of the parts, and the combination of dulcimer, fiddle, and whistles/flutes trading leads driven by excellent guitar playing makes [Just Up the Hill] a winner.”
-- Dulcimer Players News
“The Talisman sound is unique and hard to compare with major name artists. If you enjoy Clannad's most harmonious moments you'll definitely enjoy Talisman.”
--John Willmott, CelticWays.com
Personnel
Carl Thor (hammered dulcimer,
keyboard, vocals, percussion) also plays in Cascade Crossing, Hands4, the
Portland Megaband,
and in various informal dance music ensembles. He has accompanied choirs including
the Aurora Chorus
in performances of music for choir and hammered dulcimer. He teaches hammered dulcimer
at Artichoke
Community Music, and teaches piano and electronic music at
Portland Community College.
Lori Prime (fiddle) joins Talisman this year after moving back to Portland from Redmond, OR. She has
built some impressive fiddle chops through her playing with
Cascade Crossing and the Portland Megaband,
and she is probably the member of this band who practices the most diligently. Between music, dancing, kayaking,
hiking, cycling, and family activities, she somehow manages to find time to hold down a job as a post-op
ICU nurse,.
Rich Goss
(guitar, vocals, percussion) performed in several Austin, Texas bands prior to moving to
Portland. He currently plays in Cascade Crossing, Hands4, and the
Portland Megaband.
Rich also enjoys calling contra dances and has called from Vancouver, BC, to San Diego to
Texas. He serves the
Portland Country Dance Community as a member of two dance committees. To propel
all these activities, Rich works as a software quality analyst. In between, he still
finds time to walk his dog, Otto.
Sara Martin (flutes, tin whistle, vocals, percussion) has performed with the
Lawrence Civic Choir, Home Harmonies, the Lawrence Arts Center Chorale, the Motet
Singers and the University of Kansas Choirs. By day, she is director of academic
advising at the Evergreen State College. The mother of two musically inclined young
adults, Sara is a quilter, a poet, a gardener, and a spiritual light to her friends
and family.
Talisman Demo Tracks 
Click on the links to hear samples of Talisman's sound (MP3 format).
-
Munster Bank
(polka) -
Green Mt. Petronella / the Kitchen Girl
(reels) -
The Boys of Ballysadare / The Butterfly
(slip jigs) -
the Friendship Waltz (©1996, Carl Thor)
(waltz)
Promo Documents 
Here are documents for promoters, bookers, and press, providing
additional information about Talisman.
Click to view; right click to download to your computer.
-
Introduction PDF
(general information, similar to this page) -
Talisman At a Glance PDF
(personnel, performance venues, discography, quotes) -
Staging PDF
(technical requirements for staging and sound) -
Photo JPG
(full resolution version of the band photo on this page)
