Mist Covered Mountains are fiddler Donna Hébert, (a MA Artist Fellow), guitarist Max Cohen and singer Molly Hebert-Wilson. Named to his 2013 'Top 8 list" by Midnight Special DJ Rich Warren at WFMT-Chicago, the band's new CD is getting national airplay. Devon Leger at Hearth Music said, "It’s not often you hear a voice this powerful debut in the world of Celtic song." The band travels from L’Acadie to the land of Faerie, with fiddle tunes and songs from traditional Irish, Scots, Québécois, and original sources. There’s magic in the way voices, guitar and fiddle weave together in harmony. "This Distant Shore," features Archie Fisher’s epic “Witch of the Westmerlands” and John Gorka’s lullaby for the fallen soldiers, “Let Them In, Peter.” Max Cohen’s melody underpins the graceful “Wedding Dance,” a co-write with Richard Berman, who also penned “The Gifts.”Molly Hebert-Wilson delivers skillfully nuanced vocals in English and Irish, rendering a song’s emotions in either language. An NYU theater and Irish studies grad, she's sung at festivals with Max and Donna since 2006. After a lifetime of theater productions and being dragged to folk venues with her mother’s bands, it was obvious that Molly would wind up onstage. It was a surprise to both of them that it was in the same band.Max Cohen’s guitar supports Molly’s nuance with his own, and he adds his James Taylor-ish baritone and deft, humorous lyrics. The band owes its skillfully produced recordings and many of their arrangements to him. Max also tours with singer Priscilla Herdman and fiddler Donna Hébert. His 2012 Orange on Blue CD with Donna is an instrumental collection of classic Celtic airs and waltzes from Québec, along with a few seriously crooked original tunes!Donna Hébert is a state Artists’ Fellow in the Folk Arts whose fiddling was recognized for “outstanding artistic achievement” by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. She teaches fiddle at Smith and Amherst Colleges and has two original songs on Smithsonian recordings. She has played for contradances since 1972, and her Fiddling Demystified for Strings series is recognized for her pioneering work in fiddle pedagogy.Three-part harmonies, virtuoso fiddling and fingerstyle guitar - all serve the story in each song. From Celtic melancholy to fiddling frenzy, Mist Covered Mountains packs a powerful amount of music into a trio!programs offered . . .Festivals, concerts, conferences - recent appearances and residencies include Philadelphia Folk Festival, Old Songs Festival, Blackstone River Theatre, Gaelic Roots Series at Boston College and Goderich Celtic College and Folk Festival. School assemblies and classroom programs: teaching and demonstrating French-Canadian history and culture in New England. Optional potluck supper and Soirée where students perform with group. Molly graduated with an Irish Studies minor from NYU and sings in Irish, French and English. Her workshops teach the Irish language through song. Max and Molly also teach the Great Groove Band at Old Songs and Philadelphia Folk Festivals every year. Fiddling Demystified channel on YouTube - for performances with children’s groups at festivals.Workshops: For schools, colleges and community groups, Donna teaches Fiddling Demystified for String Players and Improvisation as well as fiddle styles from Canada, Scotland, Ireland and the U.S. Max Cohen teaches Celtic guitar accompaniment, DADGAD fingerstyle guitar and chord theory. Molly Hebert-Wilson teaches Irish Gaelic songs and Irish language.Fees (all plus travel): Low - single nights or schools - $1200 plus travel. High - weekend festival or college residency - $3000. Venue provides sound unless otherwise contracted. (For Touring program venues: Donna and Max are MA residents)
reviews . . .
This Distant Shore named to Midnight Special DJ Rich Warren’s Top Eight for 2013! “Snuck up on me – a delightful CD from left field!”
“Mist Covered Mountains are a trio of masterful Celtic roots musicians based out of New England. Their new album, This Distant Shore, is a delight from start to finish, the kind of album that reveals new sides to the group with each spin. Anchored by the amazing vocals of Molly Hebert-Wilson, mom and fiddler Donna Hébert uplifts Molly’s songs with the lightest and most subtle of touches on her fiddling and string arrangements, while guitarist and vocalist Max Cohen brings his own songs, including a new take on the classic song The Parting Glass. But what sticks with me the most are Molly Hebert-Wilson’s stunning vocals. It’s not often you hear a voice this powerful debut in the world of Celtic song.” - Devon Leger: Hearth Music (8/20/13)
“Locals will recall that Molly had an amazing voice when she was a tween; as a mature young woman, there’s added depth, luster and sparkle. Especially noteworthy is “Katie Cruel,” in which Hebert-Wilson’s voice punches through a muscular arrangement in which Cohen channels Bert Jansch and Hébert’s fiddle sizzles. Even better is Hebert-Wilson’s gorgeous and sensitive cover of Richard Berman’s “The Gifts.” – Rob Weir, Valley Advocate (11/31/13)
“Molly lives her songs. Every word and every note is absolutely felt!” – Jane Yolen, author and poet“Really a treat – fabulous musicians with a wonderful way of playing together.”– Jay Ungar, fiddler & composer“Molly’s voice is exquisite! I love her pure sound and gentle control- she’s definitely found her calling. The arrangements give it an easy-listening feel that really appeals to me, and of course, Max is amazing on guitar!” – Josée Vachon, Franco-American singer, composer
“I’ll be riding the bliss wave you guys left behind for weeks. You just made an awesome weekend for a whole load of people! Much love to you three awesome superstars!!!” – Jennifer Stafford, Tri-City-Trad director, Albany NY“I saw Molly Hebert-Wilson at the top of the musical ladder in 2008. Since then, she’s added more rungs than one can imagine!” – Mike Haley, actor, film producer, (Angels in America, Charlie Wilson’s War, Closer)“Mist Covered Mountains’ unique take on traditional and contemporary Celtic acoustic music is without peer. There are some fine fiddlers in this world – Donna Hebert is one of them. Virtuoso guitarist Max Cohen excites the listener and Molly Wilson-Hebert sings like an angel. Mist Covered Mountains is a well-oiled performance music machine. An evening with this trio will transform your spirit!” - Louise Dunphy, “Celtic Crossings” WMUA-FM & The River, Greenfield MA
