Press Kit

Buskin & Batteau have been winning hearts and minds with their soulful acoustic balladry and fun-filled performances for more years than they care to remember.

"We're not from the Cambridge, came-over-on-the-Mayflower first wave of folkies [ Joan Baez, Tom Rush, Eric Von Schmidt ]," says Buskin, "but we'd like to think we've stolen many of their licks."

The Washington Post called their work "an irresistible amalgam of melodic, sensual pop, folkie grit and killer wit.”  And while their humor runs the gamut from topical irony ("Second Homeless") to terminal silliness ("Jews Don't Camp"), it's their unique combination of instrumental virtuosity (piano and violin, primarily, though both play other instruments as well), soaring vocal harmonies and unparalleled lyric-writing that prompts the standing ovations and rhapsodic reviews: "The most musically sophisticated act in folk" –The New York Times; "Acoustic Heaven" – The Boston Globe.  And with the help of uber-percussionist Marshal Rosenberg, they manage to kick the rhythm pretty hard for a couple of seasoned troubadors.

Famous in the eighties as superstar jingle writers --Batteau's "Heartbeat of America" heads a list of a hundred or more hits -- they've also divided their time between writing songs for other artists -- e.g., Judy Collins, Tom Rush, Astrud Gilberto, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Peter, Paul and Mary and Bette Midler; helping a diverse group of non-profits -- Paul Newman's Hole-In-The-Wall Camps, Harry Chapin's WhyHunger, Roger Payne's Ocean Alliance, among others; and hosting their quirky, unpredictable Radio B&B show on WPKN-FM and WPKN.org.  Their latest CD, Love Remembered, Love Forgot was recorded at Neale Eckstein's Fox Run Studios in Sudbury, MA, features some delightful guest appearances and is now available.


Photo of Buskin & Batteau
View/download large photo (1024x682)
photo:Jake Jacobson

Photo of David, Robin and Marshal
View/download medium photo (640x427)
View/download huge photo (3456x2304)
Photo:Mike Horyczun

Quotes

  • "Buskin & Batteau... are something special.  I think they levitated the audience.  Terrific musicianship, memorable songs and just great all-around entertainers.  The audience was raving about them..." - Rich Warren, WFMT Midnight Special & Folkstage
  • "Buskin & Batteau let the poet drive their songs forward with an unstoppable beat and untamed fiddle solo.  One of our stand out Village performances of the year!"
    - Mary Sue Twohy, The Village - Sirius XM Radio
  • "...Versatile, sophisticated...by turns acerbic, funny and plaintive. Buskin and Batteau are breathing new life into the genre of the folk-pop singer/songwriter."- The New York Times
  • "...an amalgam of melodic sensual pop, folkie grit and killer wit." - The Washington Post
  • "Acoustic heaven" - The Boston Globe
  • "Post-folkies on cruise control ... sexy ... magical" - Boston Phoenix
  • "The best act ever, anytime, anywhere in the entire universe." - Reviews for a Dollar