The Jumping Chollas from Tucson

          

                      Headed up by well known local fiddler Jennifer Sordyl, “The Jumping Chollas” are a contra dance band performing Celtic, New England and Old-time selections. Jennifer teaches fiddle & violin in Southern Arizona and at the Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp in Colorado. She also played with "Diamond Jim" Hewitt at the Oracle Barn Dance and is a regular at the dances sponsored by the Tucson Friends of Traditional Music. Tom Ryan, is a banjo and mandolin playing, itinerant tennis bum, who enjoys composing wonderful contra dance tunes, many influenced by the beautiful desert surroundings here in Arizona. In a former life, he was a member of the Dusty Chips (not Chaps) specializing in Country Schtick. Steve Richard, long time Tucson geologist and guitar player is the backbone of the Jumping Chollas. Playing with a dropped D tuning, Steve makes the guitar sound like a musical drum, and his specialty is bringing fun and rhythm to the dances.