Basket Landing: Getting high on music

By SANDY LONG

HANKINS, NY — If the expression of joy on their rapt faces is any indication of how much the members of Basket Landing relish what they do, they’re having a great deal of soul-satisfying fun.

“I just always have a good time when I sing,” said Joan Stein, the group’s leader. “As soon as I hear the music, I’m happy.”

That hasn’t always been the case for the group, which rose from the ashes of their parents’ addictions when a small group of recovered addicts began holding regular jam sessions on the porch of an old farmhouse in Hankins nearly 42 years ago.

Over the years, the sessions became an integral part of the group’s recovery process. Eventually the children of the original participants began picking up instruments and singing along with the highly infectious music. Toe-tapping bluegrass, Appalachian folk ballads, Irish jigs and soul-stirring spirituals seemed to stir listeners to a satisfying high—without drugs or alcohol.

The winning combination resulted in regular Saturday evening sessions where friends and family gathered, helping one another navigate the stages of addiction recovery by making music.

Steve Feldman, the band’s marketing manager, remembers the group’s promising startup. Basket Landing debuted in July 2005 at the Towne Crier Cafe in Pawling, NY. The owner, Phil Ciganer, said to Feldman after hearing the group perform, “They’ve got the goods.”

Others have also recognized the young band’s potential. In 2006, they were awarded a scholarship to perform at the North American Folk Alliance conference in Austin, TX and have also been featured on the internationally syndicated television show “Teen Kids News.” They released their first CD, “My Old Mountain Home,” at the North East Regional Folk Alliance conference in 2006 and continue to perform both locally and in places like the Arcadia Coffee Company in Old Greenwich, Connecticut.

Basket Landing is comprised of four children of recovered addicts and one recovered drug addict, ranging in age from 15 to 31. The music outreach program, based in Hankins, NY that spawned the band is part of a larger charity targeting all addictions.

The addiction program is partially funded by Green Demolitions (GD), a donation program with retail store locations in Bethel, NY, and Honesdale, PA. GD receives donated items from demolitions and renovations, then resells the items at up to 75 percent below retail.

Feldman conceived the concept—recycle, resell and use the money to help others rebuild their lives—after seeing estate-quality homes being demolished in Greenwich, CT and sent to landfills.

The band values its association with Green Demolitions and the opportunity it provides to broaden their musical outreach. The group’s lead instrumentalist, Nate Zaur, a formally trained jazz pianist, said, “We really enjoy sharing the spirit of this music with others.” Amy Smith prefers singing the quiet poignant tunes, while her brother, John Powers, said, “I like to sing. I like to play. It makes me happy. As far as we can go, I want to go that far.” Kevin Anderson likes the educational aspect. “It teaches you different rhythms and different styles. I like the challenge.”

Stein credits her brother, Tom Powers Jr., with being the band’s guiding force when it comes to the music. “We owe it to our families for who we are, especially my older brother, who took us under his wing,” said Stein. “He’s become our artistic director, helping us refine our sound and select what we sing. It’s an honor to be able to sing this music. We’re attracted by the joy.”

Basket Landing recently returned to play at the Harvest Market at Bethel Woods for the second time. Typically, the performance includes traditional folk music by Basket Landing combined with traditional folk dancing by the East Ridge Folk dancers. The young dancers perform a repertoire of international folk dances from Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Hungary, Ireland, Scotland and more.

Basket Landing, which takes its name from a Delaware River tributary near the members’ homes, plays every Saturday night, beginning at 7:00 p.m., at the addiction center’s meeting and retreat center in Hankins. The evening is a variety show that might include folk, blues, old-timey, traditional or Americana music, or serve as a jam session and casual singalong. The evening is open to the public; call 845/887-5835 for directions. For more information about Basket Landing visit basketlanding.com or contact Steve Feldman at steve@greendemolitions.org. or 845/887-5211.

See both groups at the Tusten Theatre!

Basket Landing will share their lively brand of traditional folk tunes at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 5. The East Ridge Folk dancers will perform during intermission. Admission is $12 at the door or $11 in advance. Call the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance at 845-252-7272 for more information or to purchase tickets, or stop by the office at 37 Main Street, Narrowsburg.